Delhi/London: India on Wednesday strongly condemned, in what Scotland Yard are describing as a "terrorist incident", near the British Parliament complex.
The Ministry of External Affairs tweeted: "India strongly condemns Westminster terrorist incident and condoles loss of life. No place in democracies and civilised societies for terrorism."
India strongly condemns Westminster terrorist incident & condoles loss of life. No place in democracies & civilised societies for terrorism.
— Gopal Baglay (@MEAIndia) March 22, 2017
Foreign Minister Sushma Swaraj also tweeted:
I am in constant touch with Indian High Commission in London. There is no Indian casualty reported so far. #LondonAttack @HCI_London
— Sushma Swaraj (@SushmaSwaraj) March 22, 2017
Indian High Commission is there to help all Indian nationals in London. Please note theTelephone no.s : 020 8629 5950 & 020 7632 3035.
— Sushma Swaraj (@SushmaSwaraj) March 22, 2017
The High Commission of India in London said:
Any Indians injured during Westminster incident today may reach Public Response Unit of HCI ASAP:
info.london@hcilondon.in; 02086295950— India in the UK (@HCI_London) March 22, 2017
After office hours, the telephone number for contact is: 020 7632 3035.
— India in the UK (@HCI_London) March 22, 2017
All are advised strongly to avoid Parliament Square and check Met Police website for further details on the attack. Stay safe!
— India in the UK (@HCI_London) March 22, 2017
Four people, including the attacker and a police officer, died in today`s terrorism incident, police said.
"Four people have died. That includes the police officer who was protecting parliament and one man we believe to be the attacker who was shot by a police firearms officer," Britain`s top counter-terrorism officer Mark Rowley told reporters, as per Reuters.
"We are treating this as a terrorist incident until we know otherwise," the Metropolitan Police had said on Twitter earlier.
Cmdr Harrington “The events near Parliament Square #Westminster has been declared a terrorist incident”
— Metropolitan Police (@metpoliceuk) March 22, 2017
The incident unfolded as a man tried to gain entry into the Parliament via the main entrance and stabbed a police officer.
Plainclothes armed officers shouted warnings at him before shooting a number of rounds. He was later seen being covered by blankets, presumed dead.
British Prime Minister Theresa May, who had just completed her weekly PM's Questions, was seen being ushered into a car as gunfire rang out at Parliament during the incident.
Commons Leader David Lidington, who suspended the Parliament session as this unfolded outside, told MPs the "alleged assailant was shot by armed police", as per PTI.
There was chaos in the heart of London as crowds of people were seen running and being pushed back by Scotland Yard officers.
(With Agency inputs)
