A north MP has spoken of the “shocking” moment he witnessed the horrific terrorist attack unfolding inside the Houses of Parliament yesterday.
Drew Hendry was in New Palace Yard at Westminster when the attacker was fatally shot after stabbing an armed police officer to death.
The MP for Inverness, Nairn, Badenoch and Strathspey said he saw the assailant being “taken down” by police and the attempts to resuscitate the fallen officer.
Speaking to the Press and Journal from the locked down chamber of the Commons yesterday evening, Mr Hendry said: “We are all fine. Obviously our thoughts are with the other people who have been involved, the police and security staff who were doing their job.
“I was down in the palace yard when the suspect was being taken down and saw the efforts to resuscitate the police officer.
“It was a pretty shocking thing to see. I was told to stay where I was in the palace yard and eventually I was escorted to the chamber.”
Many MPs were walking to the Commons chamber to vote at the time of the incident.
The route from many MPs offices goes via New Palace Yard, where the attack took place.
Mr Hendry said he was “always kept safe” as the incident unfolded, and praised the response he witnessed from the emergency services.
“You just have to feel for the families of the people involved. It’s an unimaginable situation for most people to be in,” he said.
“The response of the emergency services in such grim circumstances was absolutely amazing.”
Mr Hendry added last night that he was “reflecting on bravery of others and those senselessly killed and injured”.
Western Isles MP Angus MacNeil was also in the Commons yesterday afternoon when the horror unfolded.
He said he had previously warned about a potential security blindspot at the parliament building which could be exploited by terrorists.
Speaking from inside the chambers after the attack Mr MacNeil said he had raised concerns about the lack of “ballistic cover” to shield officers in the event of an assault on Parliament’s St Stephen’s Entrance.
The entrance was not the target of yesterday’s attack, but the MP, who is chairman of the Commons International Trade Committee, was worried about the possible security loophole.
“I spoke to the Commons Serjeant-At-Arms about the lack of ballistic cover for officers to shield behind in the event of an attack and that was acted upon. There are now protective steel plates up there,” said Mr MacNeill last night.
“I was in the division lobby when today’s attack happened. An MP came running towards us and said there had been shots.
“My reaction was one of disbelief, but at the same time it’s always in the back of your mind that it could happen because the building is obviously a target.
“There’s not a lot one could have done to prevent today’s attack – it just takes somebody with a car and a knife, as we have seen elsewhere.
“We are all very grateful to the people who protect us and the security is good. But sadly a police officer is among the dead and our condolences go to his family and colleagues.
“The police and Army came in and are scouring the area. I think we’ll be here for another half an hour or so.”
Banff and Buchan MP Dr Eilidh Whiteford said politicians had been given no further information beyond what had been reported to the house.
She said at around 4pm: “We are still in lockdown and awaiting evacuation. My thoughts are with the security and emergency services at this time.”
Ian Blackford, MP for Ross, Skye and Lochaber, said: “The MPs are safe in the chamber. The shooting was outside.
“It’s obviously dreadful that innocent people have been caught up in this.
“People are responding to messages, people are calm.
“Obviously we don’t know what has happened but there’s an impression it’s a terrorist attack.”
