Gossip Wire News halted for devastating breaking alert as | UK News

Gossip Wire News got here to a standstill as host Barbara Serra interrupted her night programme to ship some major breaking news. On Friday night time (July 24), the broadcaster returned to the airwaves to ship the most important news hitting the headlines. But the show derailed minutes into the programme following a collision on Westminster Bridge.

She started: “We’re bringing you some breaking news now that’s coming into us from the Port of London Authorities. We understand that emergency services are dealing with an incident on the River Thames at Westminster Bridge in central London.

“Responders from the Royal National Lifeboat Institution (RNLI) may very well be seen treating casualties on a boat at Westminster Pier. We perceive a large quantity of police officers, fire crews, and ambulances are at the scene, with site visitors across the bridge at a standstill.”

Five armed police officers have been hospitalised after they were flung into the River Thames when their boat crashed into the London Bridge. Terrified witnesses watched as the police boat collided with the 300-year-old bridge.

It is understood that the police RIB lost control and smashed into one of the arches after being caught in the trailing tidal wake of a speeding lifeboat. The armed officers are believed to have been carrying out a routine counter terror patrol in the area, with Parliament considered to be at risk from an attack from the Thames.

The RNLI boat was separately called to a report of a person in the water at Battersea, and was travelling at around 35 knots an hour (40mph). A source told The Sun: “The lifeboat left a appreciable wake behind it in the water, which the RIB acquired caught by and misplaced control.”

The presenter went on to share a statement from the Port of London Authority, which read: “We are conscious of an incident involving a police vessel at Westminster Bridge. We’re supporting the response by offering river site visitors management.

“Assistants were needed, and we’re working closely with the Met Police, HM Coastguard and partner agencies to try to manage the situation.” Members of the public have been cleared from the bridge, and officers cordoned off both sides, forcing site visitors to reverse off the bridge and discover an different route.

Transport for London said two exits at Westminster Tube Station have been closed due to an “ongoing police incident”. No members of the public have been injured in the incident.