The man is in police custody in south London after the car he was driving plowed through a group of cyclists and pedestrians before smashing into security barriers guarding access to the Houses of Parliament at 07:37 BST in Westminster.
The silver Ford Fiesta crashed into security barriers outside the Houses of Parliament leaving one woman in hospital with what's been described by Assistant Commissioner Neil Basu as "serious but thankfully not life threatening injuries."
"The man, who is in his late 20's, was arrested on suspicion of terrorism offenses and has been taken to a south London police station where he remains in custody," Assistant Commissioner Neil Basu said in a statement, "he hasn't been formally identified, he is not co-operating," he added.
Footage taken by Euronews journalist Vincent McAviney emerged on social media of the moment the suspect was arrested by armed officers already in the area.
Breaking: Big armed police response to car which has cashed into Parliament barriers we are now being moved back pic.twitter.com/rYAqExq6rn
— Vincent McAviney (@VinnyMcAv) August 14, 2018
I'm so proud of our police. Watching the armed officers remove the man from the car wreck, cuff him and arrest him — there is a calmness and professionalism there that you don't see with armed police in some other countries. #Westminster
— Rebecca Fewtrell (@RFewtrellUK) August 14, 2018
"Given that this appears to be a deliberate act, the method and this being an iconic site, we are treating is as a terrorism incident and the investigation is being led by officers from the Counter Terrorism Command," Assistant Commissioner Neil Basu said.
Police are investigating an incident in #Westminster this morning. https://t.co/mcyVXyiOPi pic.twitter.com/C65hDeZNt2
— Metropolitan Police (@metpoliceuk) August 14, 2018
Scotland Yard is still trying to establish his identity and motivation for crashing into a security barrier in Westminster.
Assistant Commissioner Neil Basu also thanked the public for "their patience and understanding" while the area around Westminster remained a crime scene.
Update: Parliament Square has reopened after the incident this morning at the Palace of #Westminster
— Politico Daily (@Politico_Daily) August 14, 2018
Britain's Prime Minister Theresa May tweeted "My thoughts are with those injured in the incident in Westminster and my thanks to the emergency services for their immediate and courageous response."
My thoughts are with those injured in the incident in Westminster and my thanks to the emergency services for their immediate and courageous response.
— Theresa May (@theresa_may) August 14, 2018
Leader of the Labour Party, Jeremy Corbyn tweeted "My thoughts are with those injured outside Parliament this morning in what is being treated as a terrorist incident."
My thoughts are with those hurt and injured outside Parliament this morning in what is being treated as a terrorist incident.
— Jeremy Corbyn (@jeremycorbyn) August 14, 2018
Our thanks go to our emergency services who responded immediately. Their bravery keeps us safe day in, day out.
"All Londoners, like me, utterly condemn all acts of terrorism on our city," London's Mayor Sadiq Khan said on Twitter.
Update: Parliament Square has reopened after the incident this morning at the Palace of #Westminster
— Politico Daily (@Politico_Daily) August 14, 2018
An emergency government Cobra meeting is being chaired by Britain's Prime Minister Theresa May following the crash.
READ MORE: Terror Related Incident in Central London — What We Know So Far
