Casualties are being treated following an incident involving a police vessel on the River Thames in central London this afternoon.
Police reported that a boat carrying armed officers crashed near Westminster Bridge, leading to officers taping off a section overlooking the Houses of Parliament.
In total, five officers required medical attention, with a Metropolitan Police statement reading: 'At around 3.45pm on Friday, July 24, a boat from the Met's Marine Policing Unit struck Westminster Bridge.'
'A number of officers entered the water but were recovered,' the statement continued. 'Additional officers responded alongside the London Ambulance Service and London Fire Brigade.'
Several ambulances, fire crews, and police vehicles were seen parked along Embankment while a helicopter and air ambulance circled overhead, causing traffic to be brought to a standstill.
A spokesperson for the Port of London Authority said: 'We are aware of an incident involving a police vessel at Westminster Bridge.'
'We are supporting the response by providing river traffic management assistance where needed and are working closely with the Metropolitan Police, HM Coastguard and partner agencies to manage the situation.'
Entrances three and four to Westminster Underground station have been shut due to the 'ongoing incident,' Transport for London confirmed.
An eyewitness described the scene, saying the police boat was accompanying a lifeboat at around 40 knots when it lost control and smashed into one of the bridge's arches.
'There was an almighty bang – I think one of the tanks popped on the boat,' the eyewitness said. 'The next thing, there were three casualties in the river – fortunately, their life jackets had deployed, and they floated past Westminster Pier.'
The injured officers are receiving treatment, with a Metropolitan Police statement saying that the circumstances of the incident will be thoroughly reviewed.
