Five police officers are injured after some had to be pulled from the Thames as armed patrol boat crashes near Westminster Bridge

Five police officers have been injured after a number had to be recovered from the Thames when their boat hit Westminster Bridge. Emergency services rushed to the incident on the River Thames after the patrol boat crashed in central London at around 3.45pm today. RNLI responders could be seen treating casualties at the scene. The Metropolitan Police do not believe any members of the public were injured or involved. The cause of the incident has yet to be confirmed as the force has said their 'priority is the wellbeing of the officers involved'. The Metropolitan Police's Marine Policing Unit is not routinely armed, but they do work with armed officers from the Specialist Firearms Command (SCO19).The two units work alongside each other to handle high-risk security, counter-terrorism and armed response operations on the Thames. Several officers entered the water but were recovered and were seen being treated by paramedics on a rigid black inflatable boat moored to the side of the river.Officers have taped off a section of the bridge overlooking the Houses of Parliament, and have since cleared members of the public from the area.A police cordon was placed at either end of the bridge and buses and coaches travelling on it were forced to reverse and find another route. Five police officers have been injured after a number had to be recovered had to be recovered from the River Thames when their boat hit Westminster Bridge A police cordon is in place at Westminster Bridge, with a large emergency service presence Police cars and a fire engine are seen parked on Westminster Bridge on Friday afternoon An area cordoned off by police near the site where a boat of the Metropolitan Police's Marine Policing Unit (MPU) struck Westminster Bridge A large number of officers, fire crews and ambulances are on the scene, with an air ambulance and police helicopter spotted circling above earlier.Mother and son Cecilia Lusevic, 56, and Mateo Bilis-Lusevic, 12, said they heard a loud bang when the police boat crashed into the bridge. The two, visiting from Chile, were on a Thames tour boat on the north side of the bridge as they saw officers being rescued from the river. 'Two boats were riding extremely fast through the water,' the 12-year-old said. 'Suddenly, 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.'He added that the officers were in the water for around ten minutes, and a life ring was thrown to one of them before a black rigid inflatable boat arrived to help them.The same boat that witnesses said they saw paramedics treating the casualties aboard.Mateo said emergency services then also arrived as he and his mother were evacuated from their vessel shortly after.Entrances three and four to Westminster Underground station have been shut, Transport for London confirmed.An Uber Boat service, operated by Thames Clippers, was also cancelled and others today following the incident this afternoon. The RB1 3.26pm Battersea Power Station to Barking Riverside service was cancelled, the firm confirmed.The Port of London Authority earlier confirmed the incident at Westminster Bridge involved a police vessel.A Met spokesman said: '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.'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. Pictured: Onlookers amid the patrol boat crash at Westminster Bridge at around 3.45pm today 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 A police cordon was placed either end of the bridge and buses and coaches travelling on it were forced to reverse and find another route Emergency services at the scene near Westminster Bridge as witnesses say they heard a loud boom as the incident unfolded An Uber Boat service, operated by Thames Clippers, was also cancelled and others today following the incident this afternoon (Pictured: Emergency services at the scene) A number of officers entered the water but were recovered and have been seen being treated by paramedics on a rigid black inflatable boat moored to the side of the river'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 Port of London Authority spokesman 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: 'We're responding to an incident on the River Thames near Westminster Bridge 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 1558 and remain on scene.'An RNLI spokesman: 'Tower RNLI lifeboat attended an incident this afternoon, Friday 24 July, at Westminster Bridge. For further information please contact the Metropolitan Police.'An Uber Boat by Thames Clippers' spokesman 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.'The Daily Mail has approached London Ambulance Service for comment.