Stephen Timms has spoken to the Recorder from Parliament which is on lockdown after a terror incident this afternoon reportedly left two people dead.
The East Ham MP confirmed that he was one of several MPs barricaded inside the Commons and that although the mood was “calm”, four security officers had just run past him and he could hear shouting from outside.
He said: “I am just outside the library in the House of Commons where everything is calm. I am in a corrider. There are probably about 20 others.”
Mr Timms said he was in the library at 2.42pm ahead of a second vote for MPs when he was alerted on a screen that it had been “suspended”.
“I came out of the library as it was very unusual and spoke to one of the officials who said there had been an incident,” he said.
The East Ham MP added that he was going to move back to the library before finishing the call.
Two people are said to have been killed and a dozen injured in today’s terror attack outside Parliament at 2.40pm.
A knifeman mowed down pedestrians on Westminster Bridge in a grey Hyundai i40 before crashing it into railings.
He then ran through the gates of the Palace of Westminster and stabbed a police officer.
West Ham MP Lyn Brown tweeted earlier to thank the public for its prayers and support. It is not known whether she is currently inside Parliament.
Additional reporting by Press Association.
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules here