MPs have reacted to a car crashing into barriers outside Westminster this morning.

A man drove a car into the barriers outside the Houses of Parliament and two people were taken to hospital at 7.37am, with a number of others injured.

A man was later arrested.

The area was on lockdown but MPs have since been able to return to work as normal, although there is still a heavy police presence.

Wes Streeting MP for Ilford North said: “We’re waiting for the Met’s counter-terrorism command to establish what happened and whether this was a deliberate attack, but I want to thank the police and the emergency services for their commendably rapid response.

“A number of pedestrians were injured and we hope they make a swift recovery.

“Now that access to the Parliamentary estate is open, I plan to be at work getting on with business as usual.”

Mike Gapes MP for Ilford South said: “I am not in Westminster today.

“My thoughts are with all those injured in this incident. Solidarity and full support for our police, security and NHS staff.”

Iain Duncan Smith MP for Chingford & Woodford Green said: “My thoughts and prayers are with the victims and with their families and loved ones, after a car drove into cyclists and rammed security barriers outside the Houses of Parliament today.

“I wish them a full and quick recovery. This incident is now being treated as a terror attack and I would like to thank and pay tribute to the immediate professionalism and bravery of the police and the emergency services at the scene.

“We must stand firm against any act of terrorism never allowing it to attack our values of liberty, democracy and freedom of speech.”