Westminster shooting highlights: Death toll rises to five, 40 injured; PM May condemns attack

Here are the highlights from the Westminster shooting (India time): 

06:38 am: Eiffel Tower in Paris turns off its lights in mark of respect to Westminster terror attack

Eiffel Tower in Paris turns off its lights in mark of respect to #Westminster terror attack https://t.co/86W3BGGHr0 pic.twitter.com/KPI72eq4wM

— BBC Breaking News (@BBCBreaking) March 22, 2017

04:10 am: The death toll increases to five and 40 injured in attack outside Parliament, says British police.

03:55 am: Queen Elizabeth II’s visit to New Scotland Yard on Thursday was postponed after Westminster terror attack in London, reports Buckingham Palace.

03:43 am: Prime Minister Theresa May condemns ‘sick and depraved terrorist attack’ in London in the emergency meeting convened.

WATCH: British PM Theresa May condemns today’s #Westminster attack as ‘sick and depraved.’ https://t.co/yPKLN1scu6 pic.twitter.com/kPPQEuNKg7

— Reuters Top News (@Reuters) March 22, 2017

03:30 am: British PM May says the location of Westminster attack was no accident

12:33 am: UK investigators considering possibility that London attack was inspired by Islamic State propaganda, says European government official

11: 50 pm: London police say that they believe there was just one attacker but they continue to be highly alert.

11: 34 pm: According to UK Police, four people have died and 20 have been injured in the British Parliament attack.

11:32 pm: Top UK anti-terrorism officer says car was driven over Westminster Bridge, hitting members of public, police.

11:00 pm: French PM says French students have been hurt in London attack: AFP

10:44 pm: Two people have died in the incident, as per Reuters.

10:39 pm: British Prime Minister May to convene emergency security committee after Westminster incident – spokesman.

10:38 pm: As of now treating it as a terror incident, investigations are underway, additional officers deployed: Police.

10:30 pm: Scottish lawmakers had been planning to vote after two days of debate on First Minister Nicola Sturgeon’s call for another referendum on leaving the United Kingdom. The debate was suspended after some members said it should be halted out of respect after a policeman was stabbed and his attacker shot in London. Sturgeon tweeted that her thoughts were with everyone in Westminster “caught up in this dreadful incident.”

10:22 pm:  Witness Rick Longley told the Press Association that he saw a man stab a policeman outside Britain’s Parliament. “We were just walking up to the station and there was a loud bang and a guy, someone, crashed a car and took some pedestrians out,” he said. “They were just laying there and then the whole crowd just surged around the corner by the gates just opposite Big Ben. “A guy came past my right shoulder with a big knife and just started plunging it into the policeman. “I have never seen anything like that. I just can’t believe what I just saw.”

Armed police walk past emergency services attending to injured people on the floor outside the Houses of Parliament, London, Wednesday, March 22, 2017. London police say they are treating a gun and knife incident at Britain’s Parliament “as a terrorist incident until we know otherwise.” (Stefan Rousseau/PA via AP).

10:18 pm: The U.S. State Department says: “We stand ready to assist in any way the U.K. authorities would find helpful.” Spokesperson Mark Toner has added that the U.S. Embassy in London is closely following the news and stands ready to help any affected Americans. He said: “Our hearts go out to those affected.”

10:16 pm: Police commander: Full counter-terrorism investigation underway into London attack.

10:15 pm: Cmdr Harrington RE Westminster incident: “Our response will be ongoing for some time as it’s important that we gather all evidence.”

10:15 pm: Cmdr Harrington confirms what we know, but will not speculate. “There are a number of casualties including police officers”.

Emergency services staff provide medical attention close to the Houses of Parliament in London, Wednesday, March 22, 2017. London police say they are treating a gun and knife incident at Britain’s Parliament “as a terrorist incident until we know otherwise.”  (AP Photo/Matt Dunham)

10:09 pm: The Scottish Parliament in Edinburgh suspended its debate on a second independence referendum after the incident outside the British Parliament in London.

Emergency services attend to injured people outside the Palace of Westminster, London, Wednesday, March 22, 2017. London police say they are treating a gun and knife incident at Britain’s Parliament “as a terrorist incident until we know otherwise.” (Stefan Rousseau/PA via AP).

Conservative MP Tobias Ellwood, centre, stands amongst the emergency services at the scene outside the Palace of Westminster, London, Wednesday, March 22, 2017. London police say they are treating a gun and knife incident at Britain’s Parliament “as a terrorist incident until we know otherwise.” (Stefan Rousseau/PA via AP).

10:01 pm: London eye has stopped working and there are tourists stuck inside.

9:55 pm: A worrying situation, MPs are calm and talking to each others, says British MP Keith Vaz to NDTV.

Emergency services transport an injured person to an ambulance, close to the Houses of Parliament in London, Wednesday, March 22, 2017. London police say they are treating a gun and knife incident at Britain’s Parliament “as a terrorist incident until we know otherwise.” (AP Photo/Matt Dunham)

9:52 pm: One person has been killed in the incident, says AFP.

9:45 pm: A European security official says there was increased chatter on jihadi networks Tuesday following the UK’s adoption of an electronics ban aboard flights from certain mostly Muslim countries. He said, however, there was no information that the incident was terror-related.  The official spoke on condition of anonymity because he was not authorized to speak about ongoing security operations.

9:44 pm: The leader of Britain’s House of Commons says a man attacked a police officer at Parliament and has been shot by police. David Lidington says the Parliament complex is in lockdown. He says there are reports of further violent incidents nearby, and police say they have been called to a firearms incident on nearby Westminster Bridge. Witnesses said a vehicle struck several people on the bridge, and photos showed a car plowed into railings.

9:43 pm: Entire Westminster area remains in lockdown as authorities investigate incident outside British Parliament

9:40 pm: A witness says that he saw a man stab a policeman outside Britain’s Parliament.

Emergency services staff provide medical attention close to the Houses of Parliament in London, Wednesday, March 22, 2017. (Source: AP)

Police secure the area close to the Houses of Parliament in London, Wednesday, March 22, 2017. (Source: AP)

9:33 pm: US State Department says closely following ‘concerning situation’ outside UK Parliament.

9:32 pm: Scottish parliament debate on mandate for new independence referendum suspended, said Speaker.

9:28 pm: This is the place where the shooting has taken place.

Source: Google Maps

9:25 pm: As per BBC, crowds being moved out of Parliament Square, suspect vehicle outside the Parliament.

9:22 pm: Meanwhile, the London Ambulance Service Deputy Director of Operations Pauline Cranmer has said in a statement: “We were called at 2.40pm to Westminster Bridge to reports of an incident, with the first crew arriving within six minutes. We have sent a number of resources to the scene including ambulance crews, London’s Air Ambulance and our Hazardous Area Response Team.”

JUST IN: UK Parliament and surrounding areas on lockdown after reported gunfire https://t.co/kLOLp3IRd3 pic.twitter.com/VngQ57dthI

— CBS News (@CBSNews) March 22, 2017

9:20 pm: Prime Minister Theresa May safe, says her spokesperson.

Britain’s Prime Minister Theresa May  (AP Photo/Matt Dunham)

9:19 pm: Please use common sense and restraint in circulating pictures and videos of those that have been injured during the incident in Westminster: Metropolitan police

9:16 pm: US President Donald Trump has reportedly been  briefed about the ongoing situation outside UK Parliament, according to National Security spokesman

9:14 pm: Officers – including firearms officers – are on scene and dealing with the incident in Westminster: Metropolitan police

9:14 pm: Suspect vehicle reported outside UK parliament, area evacuated: BBC citing police

9:12 pm: UK police appealing to people to pass on photos from the incident to them.

9:10 pm: British MP Keith Vaz tells NDTV that they’re locked inside the chamber in the House of Commons. 400 MPs are with him in the chamber and they are not allowed to go out.

9:09 pm: Police are asking people to avoid the following areas: Parliament Square; Whitehall; Westminster Bridge; Lambeth Bridge; Victoria Street up to the junction with Broadway and the Victoria Embankment up to Embankment tube. This is to allow the emergency services to deal with the ongoing incident.

9:09 pm: We thank the public for their assistance & urge people to remain calm, be alert & vigilant: Metropolitan police.

9:07 pm: We are treating this as a terrorist incident until we know otherwise, Metropolitan Police

A man lies wounded after an apparent shooting incident on Westminster Bridge in London on Wednesday [Toby Melville/Reuters]8:56 pm: Deputy speaker announces that UK Houses of Parliament suspended after shooting incident.

8:52 pm: A leader of House of Commons says that a policeman has been stabbed inside Parliament.

8:50 pm: As per the British Police, it is being treated as a firearms incident.

8:42 pm: At least a dozen people were injured in the incident.

8:40 pm: Several shots fired outside UK Parliament as Palace of Westminster was put under lockdown.