Five dead, more than 40 injured in London terror attack

Five people have died after what police describe as a terrorist attack near London's Houses of Parliament. Look back at how the incident unfolded.

READ MORE HERE:

• 'He left for work expecting to return home': Slain police officer one of five fatalities in London terror attack

• Heroic MP's desperate bid to save slain police officer

• How terrorist attack rocked London.

• 'There was so much blood': Witnesses recall sickening scenes

A car mounted a footpath and rammed crowds on Westminster Bridge about 2.40pm (1.40am AEDT) before the alleged attacker crashed the vehicle into the gates of Parliament, got out and stabbed a police officer with a large knife, before he was shot dead by police.

WHAT WE KNOW:

• At least five people have been killed

• Those dead include a police officer and the attacker

• One woman was killed after being run over by a car

• Another person believed killed on the bridge

• At least 40 people injured

• Severely injured woman pulled from the Thames

• Three police officers injured

• Three French students hurt, two critical

• Officers opened fire and shot the attacker dead

• No Australians involved in the attack

12:30am: Video has emerged of a woman believed to have fallen into the River Thames from the Westminster Bridge during the terror attack.

It is unknown whether the woman jumped or was knocked in. The attacker's car can be seen speeding down the road toward her.

12:15am: President Donald Trump's son has criticised the mayor of London in the immediate aftermath of the attack.

"You have to be kidding me?!" Trump Jr. tweeted, as he shared an article from The Independent, and paraphrased its headline as: "Terror attacks are part of living in big city, says London Mayor Sadiq Khan".

11:49am:Three of the people injured are police officers an two of them are in a serious condition.

Another officer, Keith Palmer, who lost his life in the attack was unarmed when he was targeted.

Assistant Commissioner Rowley said police are operating under the assumption that the attacker was "inspired by international terrorism".

The acting deputy commissioner said specially-trained family liaison officers were supporting the families of the three members of the public who lost their lives.

11:30am: A heroic MP who risked his life to save another has been recognised for his efforts.

As pedestrians and politicians were ushered to safety during the attack, MP Tobias Ellwood desperately tried to save the life of Keith Palmer, who later died of his injuries.

Mr Ellwood has faced terrorism before, his brother was killed in the Bali bombings.

11:00am: London police said they are looking at the attackers motivation and researching his background and his family.

Officers have confirmed that they know who the man is, but said they will not be identifying him.

They have asked the media to stop speculating about his identity.

Police said they are investigating his associates.

10:20am: The Eiffel Tower in Paris has turned off its lights in mark of respect of the Westminster terror attacks.

10:00am: A photo of the police officer killed in the attack has been released.

Ian Hopkins‏, Chief Constable of Greater Manchester Police, also paid tribute to Mr Palmer.

"RIP PC Keith Palmer, brutally murdered today carrying out his duty helping to protect Parliament and the freedom of our country,” he wrote in a tweet.

9:45am: Assistant Commissioner Rowley said police know who the attacker is but will not reveal his identity.

They are also trying to identify possible associates.

"I will not comment on this stage on the identity of the attacker but our working assumption is that he was inspired by international terrorism," Assistant Commissioner Rowley.

9:30am: Scotland Yard Assistant Commissioner Mark Rowley has confirmed that five people have died as a result of the attack including a police officer and the attacker.

The officer killed has been identified as Kieth Palmer, 48, a member of the Parliamentary protection command.

"He was a husband and father and had 15 years of service.

"He left for work today, expecting to return home at the end of his shift and he had every right to expect that would happen. I can also confirm that there were three members of the public who lost their lives in the attack."

Assistant Commissioner Rowley said at least 40 people were injured in the attack.

The injured have been taken to six hospitals.

9:00am: The city is still in lock-down with an exclusion zone still in place for most of the centre of London.

A visit by the Queen that was scheduled for tomorrow has been postponed.

Police have not identified the identity of the attacker.

8:30: Victoria Police have confirmed reports that they were conducting "safety checks" at Flinders Street Station.

But said the station remained opened.

There is no indication of what the checks are related to.

Metro Trains confirmed that the station is not closed.

8:20am: Police have descended on Kennington tube station in London's south following reports of a stabbing.

It is unknown if it is linked to the Westminster attack.

8:15am: Theresa May has commended the efforts of emergency services.

"Once again today, these exceptional men and women ran towards the danger even as they encouraged others to move the other way.

"On the half of the whole country, I want to pay tribute to them and to all our emergency services for the work they have been doing to reassure the public can bring security back to the streets of our capital city."

8:00am: Mr Turnbull said there would be an increased police presence in Australia today.

"The Police Commissioner has confirmed there will be an increased police presence today," Mr Turnbull said.

"That is a appropriate response, it indicates the degree of care and caution that is taken by our security agencies in keeping us safe."

He said the terrorist alert level is at probable.

"But we will never ever, let the terrorists win.

"We will destroy them on the battlefield, we will defeat and fight them at home. We will never change the way we live, we will never let them divide us. We will never let them intimidate us or challenge our democratic way of life for the freedoms which generations of Australians have served and died to keep secure.

"The challenge we face here in Australia. Is, as I said, a very real one. But, we have the finest security agencies in the world. Our police, our intelligence services, our defence forces, are the best in the world."

7:45am: Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull has described Australia's heartfelt sympathy and solidarity with the people of the United Kingdom.

"Staunch allies in the war against terrorism. The attack on the British Parliament is an attack on Parliament, freedom and democracy everywhere.

"Westminster is rightly known as the mother of Parliament.

"Almost every element of our Parliamentary tradition here in Australia is modelled on that of the houses of Parliament in London.

"The birthplace of our great, free, parliamentary democracy and the rule of law which sustains it."

He said he has been briefd on the attack by Australian counter terrorism coordinator Tony Sheehan, the High Commissioner in London Alexander Downer and the Police Commissioner Andrew Colvin.

"Australians should be reassured that our agencies are, today, as every day, working relentlessly to keep Australians safe.

"We're very alert to the vulnerabilities of places of mass gathering and the risk of loan wolves - loan perpetrators."

7:40am: Witness Rick Longley has spoken of the horror of the event.

"We were just walking up to the station and there was a loud bang and a guy, someone, crashed a car and took some pedestrians out," he said.

"They were just laying there and then the whole crowd just surged around the corner by the gates just opposite Big Ben. A guy came past my right shoulder with a big knife and just started plunging it into the policeman.

"I have never seen anything like that. I just can't believe what I just saw."

7:30am: Colleen Anderson, a local doctor, rushed to the scene to help.

"I was on the ward at a doctor's offices, my manager came running past me and I said 'What's wrong?'.

"All of us in the office were like: 'We need to do something'.

"We just went out and helped."

When asked if she had trained for such situation she said: "we train for these events, like emergency, your basic life support if you have to do that".

7:20am:Children have been allowed to leave the House of Commons nursery after an extended stay at Parliament because of the attack.

A Commons spokeswoman said: "Arrangements have been put in place to allow parents to collect their children".

One father whose son attended the nursery, speaking anonymously to the BBC because of his role, said there were between ten and 20 children in the nursery every day.

"The staff were amazing, they were really really great. They looked after them so well."

7:00am: The US's White House spokesman has issued a response to the attack.

6:55am: Julie Bishop said Australian authorities are working with their colleagues overseas.

"We have certainly noted that advice from the United State and the United Kingdom and we have adjusted our travel advice for Australian passengers who may be passing through the nominated airports."

6:50am: British PM Theresa May is currently chairing a meeting of COBRA, which is the group which is activated in times of crisis.

This may explain why she has not appeared on camera as yet.

A spokesman said earlier that the thoughts of the UK Government are with the families of the victims of this attack.

This is the first major terror attack since she became prime minister.

6:45am: The Mayor of London has spoken on Twitter, saying the city remains one of the safest in the world.

6:40am: Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull has expressed his condolences.

And the BBC have confirmed that Abu Izzadeen, previously known as Trevor Brooks, was not the attacker.

6:30am: Bill Shorten has expressed his condolences on Twitter.

6:20am: There are conflicting reports about the identity of the attacked.

Some UK media has named him as Abu Izzadeen, previously known as Trevor Brooks, but there is still debate about who was responsible.

6:10am: Horrifying witness reports of the incident are starting to emerge.

"Bang! Bang! Twice. I see him... with blood on his head,” One terrified witness recalled.

"We ran out of the building, but we got stuck in the doorway so we had to get the doors open,” another witness added.

"I think they had locked the doors to try and keep us in but we had to get out because we saw, we thought someone inside.

"We just heard shots being fired."

6:00am: Australian Foreign Affairs Minister Julie Bishop said that at this stage no Australians have been identified as being involved.

"I can assure Australians that up to this point no Australian’s have been identified as being involved," Ms Bishop said.

"I have also make contact with Australia's home commissioner in London and confirmed at this moment there have been no Australians involved in the incident."

She said it was too early to comment on who the perpetrators of the incident were.

"It certainly has the hallmarks of some of the recent Isis inspired terrorist attacks," Ms Bishop said.

"It is too early for a conclusion to be made on that way."

The attacker has not been formally identified at this stage.

5.55am: A statement from the White House says President Donald Trump has called UK Prime Minister Theresa May to offer his condolences.

The statement said Mr Trump also offered "his praise for the effective response of security forces and first responders".

"He pledged the full cooperation and support of the United States Government in responding to the attack and bringing those responsible to justice."

5:45am: A statement from a No 10 spokesperson said the "the thoughts of the PM and the Government are with those killed and injured in this appalling incident and with their families".

"The PM is being kept updated and will shortly chair COBR."

5.40am: The Office of the Press Secretary for the U.S. Department of Homeland Security released the following statement:

"The Department of Homeland Security stands in solidarity alongside our friends in the United Kingdom in condemning the terrible attack at Parliament today.

"With our partners in federal law enforcement, we are in close contact with our British counterparts to monitor the tragic events and to support the ongoing investigation."

5.30am: Briefing from Assistant Commissioner Mark Rowley confirms that four people are dead included one police officer and the attacker.

He also confirmed that 20 people were injured.

He said three police officers were injured in the attack.

There is an ongoing investigation, he said, but would not confirm any details about it.

It has been reported that may include the search for another assailant, but Assistant Commisioner Rowley did not confirm that.

"We're satisfied at this stage that there is only one attacker, but it would be foolish to be over confident so early on," Assistant Commissioner Rowley said.

"We are locking down the area and doing necessary searches to be completely confident that everyone is safe.

"What we're saying to the public is to be please be vigilant on your way home. Do not be alarmed.

"Be vigilant on your way home. You will see more armed and unarmed police officers on the streets of London."

5.00am:Three French pupils on a school trip were among those hurt in the attack.

Local officials in the western region of Brittany, where the French students are from, said two of them were in serious condition.

4.50am: Very little is known about the attacker at the moment. Witness reports, which could not be immediately confirmed, described a middle-aged man of Asian appearance who was carrying a large knife.

Much of the city remains in lock-down including the Houses of Parliament and lawmakers have been ordered to stay inside.

David Lidington, a government minister who is the leader of the lower House of Commons, told the chamber that a police officer had been stabbed on the parliamentary estate and that armed police had shot the alleged attacker in response, adding that there had been "reports of further violent incidents in the vicinity".

Prime Minister Theresa May was just 40 metres from the attack and was quickly evacuated from the scene.

She was seen getting into a car and being driven away from the parliament where she had been holding her weekly question-and-answer session a couple of hours earlier.

4:45am: A woman has been pulled from the River Thames alive after Wednesday's attack on a bridge near Britain's parliament in Westminster, the Port of London Authority said, adding that she was being treated for serious injuries.

"A female member of the public was pulled from the water near Westminster Bridge, alive, with serious injuries," a PLA spokesman told Reuters.

"She's undergoing very urgent medical treatment now."

He added that the river had been closed to all non-emergency traffic in the immediate area.

London's transport system was hit by four co-ordinated suicide bomb attacks in July 2005 that left 52 people dead, carried out by British attackers inspired by Al-Qaeda terror network. There was an attempted second wave of attacks two weeks later.

In 2013, two Islamic extremists killed soldier Lee Rigby on a London street by hitting him with a car before attempting to behead him.

Last August, a paranoid schizophrenic knifeman who tried to behead a commuter in a London Underground station in an Islamic State-inspired attack was sentenced to life behind bars.

The latest incident comes with Europe on high alert after a series of deadly jihadist attacks, including the Brussels bombings exactly a year ago on March 22, 2016.