A police boat carrying armed officers collided near Westminster Bridge in central London, resulting in the serious injury of four officers who fell into the River Thames.
Emergency services quickly responded to the incident in central London, with RNLI personnel seen providing aid to the injured officers on a boat at the pier. The scene was crowded with a significant presence of police officers, firefighters, and ambulances. As a result, the bridge was closed to traffic, affecting Underground services as well.
Metropolitan Police Commander Nick John expressed concern for those involved, especially the injured officers and the responders facing challenging conditions. He mentioned that the four officers hospitalized have severe but non-life-threatening injuries and assured them of full support during their recovery.
The police boat, owned by the Met Police, was en route to investigate a reported person in the water upstream when the collision occurred. Three officers were thrown into the river but were rescued by nearby boats. The Met Police disclosed that five officers were injured in total, with one already discharged from the hospital. Fortunately, no members of the public were harmed in the incident.
Westminster Bridge has since reopened, allowing traffic and pedestrians to cross once again. Witnesses described the collision as sounding like a car crash, with several officers seen in the water following the impact. The area remains cordoned off by police, and various emergency services are on-site, ensuring the situation is under control.
