Five injured after boat carrying armed police crashes at Westminster Bridge

Five police officers have been injured after a police boat struck Westminster Bridge on the River Thames this afternoon.A number of officers entered the water but were recovered and have been seen being treated by paramedics.One eyewitness said the officers were in the water for about ten minutes and a life ring was thrown for one of them.Traffic and pedestrians were cleared from the bridge before it was taped off by emergency services.Responders from the RNLI could be seen treating casualties on a boat at Westminster pier.A spokesperson for the Metropolitan Police said: “At around 3.45pm on Friday July 24 a boat from the Met’s Marine Policing Unit struck Westminster Bridge.Firefighters look on at RNLI responders at the scenePA“A number of officers entered the water but were recovered.“Additional officers responded alongside the London Ambulance Service and London Fire Brigade.“We understand five officers were injured and are receiving treatment. We await an update on the extent of their injuries.“At this stage, we don’t believe any members of the public were involved or injured.“The circumstances of the incident will be thoroughly reviewed, but at this stage our priority is the wellbeing of the officers involved.”A large number of police officers, fire crews and ambulances are on the scene, with traffic across the bridge at a standstill.Police have taped off the bridge and a stretch of the EmbankmentAFP/GettyA section of the bridge has been closed offPA WireSeveral emergency vehicles have also been parked on the bridge and along the Embankment.Crowds could be seen looking over the bridge to get a look at the incident as London approaches its Friday rush hour.A police helicopter and an air ambulance were circling above. A fire service boat was later seen towing the police boat down the River Thames.Police boats regularly patrol along this stretch of The Thames as part of measures to protect Parliament from a terror attack or intruders.At times their vessels speed across the water. The arches at Westminster Bridge are large enough for sightseeing boats, which are far bigger than the small police vessels, to pass under. Mother and son Cecilia Lusevic, 56, and Mateo Bilis-Lusevic, 12, said they heard a loud bang when the police boat crashed into Westminster Bridge and then watched as the officers were rescued from the Thames.The visitors from Chile were on a Thames tour boat on the north side of the central London bridge when they saw the incident. They were evacuated from their vessel shortly after.Read MoreThe 12-year-old said: “Two boats were riding extremely fast through the water.“Suddenly, I heard a boom. I was looking towards the boat, and I heard a boom.“Then three people went flying into the water and one of the people was really hurt.”Exits one and two at Westminster are closed due to what Transport for London described as a “police incident”.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.”A London Fire Brigade spokesperson said: "We're responding to an incident on the River Thames near Westminster Brigade alongside partner agencies."The Brigade's fire boat and three fire rescue units with water rescue capabilities, have been mobilised to the scene. We were called at 15:58 and remain on scene."An Uber Boat service, operated by Thames Clippers, has been cancelled and others delayed after a police boat struck Westminster Bridge on the River Thames in central London on Friday afternoon.The RB1 3.26pm Battersea Power Station to Barking Riverside service was cancelled, the company said.An Uber Boat by Thames Clippers’ spokesperson said: “An incident occurred in the vicinity of Westminster Bridge on Friday afternoon that did not involve Uber Boat by Thames Clippers, however some services may be subject to disruption or delay as a result.“For further information and updates please refer to the Port of London Authority or the Metropolitan Police.”London Fire Brigade said its fire boat and three of its fire rescue units with water rescue capabilities were mobilised following the incident.