Four officers seriously injured after police boat crashes into Westminster Bridge in central London

Four officers have been seriously injured after a police boat crashed into Westminster Bridge in central London.

The vessel, carrying armed officers, hit the structure at around 3.40pm on Friday, according to the Metropolitan Police.

A fifth officer was also injured but has since been discharged from hospital.

The force said the boat, from its marine policing unit, was responding to reports of a person in the water further along the river in Battersea.

The Met said a number of officers "entered the water, but were recovered", following the crash.

Paramedics were seen treating the injured on a rigid black inflatable boat moored to the side of the River Thames.

Met Commander Nick John said: "Our thoughts are with all those involved, in particular our officers who were injured and those who responded in challenging circumstances.

"The four officers who remain in hospital have serious but non-life-threatening injuries. We will give them all every support as they recover.

"I must also offer our thanks to those river users who came to the aid of the officers, as well as other police and emergency service colleagues who immediately made their way to the scene to assist.

"The quick-thinking and professionalism of all those involved undoubtedly prevented any further injuries."

No members of the public were involved or injured.

The Met said the circumstances would be "thoroughly reviewed".

A large number of police officers, fire crews and ambulances were on the scene - with traffic across the bridge overlooking the Houses of Parliament at a standstill.

A police boat was later seen being towed by a larger boat from the fire service.

Witnesses Katherine and Jim Bagley, from Gloucester in the US state of Massachusetts, were queuing for a river cruise when they saw an orange boat travelling at "high speed" along the river followed by the black police boat.

Mr Bagley told Sky News: "It looks to me that he [the police boat skipper] 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...

"The next thing we saw was three people in the water, coming down the river."

While the couple did not see the moment of impact, Mr Bagley said the orange boat eventually turned around and came back to help.

He added: "Sadly, one of the men [in the water], from what we could tell, I don't know if he was unconscious or what, but he did not move the whole time we saw him there... I hope he's OK."

Cecilia Lusevic, 56, and her 12-year-old son Mateo Bilis-Lusevic said they heard a loud bang when the crash happened.

The visitors to the UK, from Chile, were on a Thames tour boat on the north side of the bridge. They were evacuated from their vessel shortly afterwards.

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Mateo said: "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."

The officers were in the water for around 10 minutes and a life ring was thrown for one of them by someone, he said.

Following the crash, crowds of onlookers watched the aftermath from the bridge before being moved from the area.

Surrounding roads and two entrances of nearby Westminster Underground station were also closed.

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