The Met Police say officers were called to the central London crossing just before 4pm on Sunday over concerns for a man’s welfare. Diversions are in place.
Westminster Bridge has been closed in both directions while police deal with an incident involving a man whose welfare was a cause for concern. The Metropolitan Police said it was called at 3.41pm on Sunday 18 October. Emergency services remain at the scene. Drivers and pedestrians have been told to avoid the area where possible.
What police have said
A Met spokesperson said: “Police were called at 15:41hrs on Sunday, 18 October following concerns for the welfare of a man on Westminster Bridge.”
The spokesperson added: “Emergency services remain at the scene and Westminster Bridge, along with a number of surrounding roads, has been closed while officers respond to the incident. Motorists and pedestrians are advised to avoid the area where possible.”
Police have not said what the nature of the emergency is. They have not said whether the man is injured, has a medical problem or needs other help. There is no verified information identifying him or confirming that he has been taken to hospital. No arrests have been announced, and the information available does not show that a crime has taken place. A welfare-related incident should not be treated as a criminal investigation.
Disruption
The bridge links the Westminster and Parliament Square area with Lambeth and the South Bank. Traffic is moving slowly between Victoria Embankment and Lambeth Palace Road. A southbound closure on Victoria Embankment towards Parliament Square is adding to delays across central London. Surrounding approaches to the bridge are also affected. Buses and pedestrians may be affected too, but there is no confirmed list of diverted bus routes.
Transport for London’s traffic information separately shows a planned closure of Waterloo Bridge on Sunday for filming. That is unrelated to the Westminster Bridge incident. The entry was published earlier in the day, so it does not confirm whether the filming closure was still in force when police arrived.
What is not yet known
It has not been confirmed whether Westminster Bridge or the surrounding roads have reopened, whether the man has been brought to safety, whether anyone has been taken to hospital, or what caused the incident. This is a developing story, and the Met’s latest updates should be checked before publication.
