Overview
- A Metropolitan Police Marine Policing Unit boat struck Westminster Bridge at about 3:45pm on Friday, throwing several officers into the River Thames and injuring five who were recovered and treated at the scene.
- One injured officer has been discharged and four remain in hospital with serious but non-life-threatening injuries, Metropolitan Police Commander Nick John said.
- RNLI crews, London Fire Brigade rescue units, London Ambulance Service, HM Coastguard, a police helicopter and an air ambulance all joined the on-scene response to recover officers and provide urgent medical care.
- The incident closed parts of Westminster Bridge, forced nearby Tube entrance closures and disrupted river services while the Port of London Authority managed river traffic and a police cordon secured the area.
- A Marine Accident Investigation Branch-led probe, supported by the Met, will examine the vessel's actions, speed, wake effects and procedures as investigators consider the risks of high-speed emergency responses on the busy Thames.