Westminster Bridge Collision Leaves Five Police Officers Injured
Ninoda.com – A dramatic incident unfolded on the River Thames when a Metropolitan Police vessel collided with Westminster Bridge, resulting in injuries to five officers aboard. The Marine Policing Unit craft, which was transporting armed personnel, made contact with the structure at approximately 15:40 BST in central London.
Witness Accounts Describe Chaotic Scene
Jim Bagley, an American visitor to London, provided a vivid description of the events. He observed two police vessels navigating the river at speed.
One was an orange boat that went under the bridge and left a great big wave, and then there was a black boat that came up behind it, the police boat. It looks to me that he got stuck in the wake of the other boat that had just passed through the bridge and slammed into the wall on the opposite side.
Bagley noted that while the collision itself wasn’t directly witnessed, the sound was unmistakable. He recounted hearing what sounded like an explosion before spotting three individuals in the water, moving downstream with the current.
Chilean visitors Cecilia Lusevic, aged 56, and her son Mateo Bilis-Lusevic, 12, experienced the incident from a river tour vessel positioned on the north side of the bridge. They were evacuated shortly after the crash.
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.
Mateo added that the officers remained submerged for roughly ten minutes before rescue efforts commenced. A life ring was deployed for one of the injured individuals, and a black rigid inflatable boat arrived to assist in extracting them from the river.
Emergency Response and Aftermath
The London Ambulance Service mobilized multiple resources to the location, including ambulance crews, incident response officers, paramedic teams, and London’s Air Ambulance. A spokesperson confirmed that five individuals received treatment at the scene and were subsequently transported to hospital facilities.
The London Fire Brigade also deployed significant resources, sending their fire boat alongside three fire rescue units equipped with water rescue capabilities. A Port of London Authority representative stated they were supporting the overall response effort in coordination with the Metropolitan Police and HM Coastguard.
Officers who had been pulled from the water were observed receiving medical attention aboard the rigid black inflatable vessel moored near the riverbank. Members of the public were relocated from the immediate area as a substantial presence of police officers, fire crews, and ambulance personnel attended to the situation.
Official Statements and Ongoing Investigation
A Metropolitan Police spokesperson issued a statement confirming the injuries: “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 spokesperson emphasized that the circumstances surrounding the incident would undergo thorough review, with officer wellbeing remaining the primary concern. A cordon was established at both ends of the bridge, which spans the River Thames adjacent to the Houses of Parliament. Consequently, buses and coaches traveling across the bridge were compelled to reverse and seek alternative routes.
Some entrances to Westminster Underground station were temporarily closed due to the incident. The boat carrying armed police was later seen being towed down the river by a fire service vessel.
At present, no public members are believed to have been harmed in the collision. The Metropolitan Police continue to monitor the situation while awaiting further information regarding the severity of the officers’ injuries.
