Five Metropolitan Police officers were injured after a police boat struck Westminster Bridge in central London on Friday afternoon, prompting a major emergency response on the River Thames. According to the Metropolitan Police, the vessel, operated by the Marine Policing Unit, collided with the bridge at around 3:40 p.m., causing several officers to enter the water before they were quickly rescued by emergency teams. The injured officers were taken for medical treatment, while authorities confirmed that no members of the public were involved or harmed in the incident. The cause of the collision has not yet been established and remains under investigation.
The crash drew a significant response from the London Ambulance Service, London Fire Brigade, HM Coastguard, the RNLI, and the Port of London Authority, with emergency crews working to secure the area and assist those involved. Westminster Bridge and parts of the surrounding transport network were temporarily affected as police cordoned off the scene and managed traffic. Officials said the immediate priority is the welfare of the injured officers, while a thorough review will examine the circumstances leading to the collision. Witnesses reported seeing a large emergency presence along the river as authorities coordinated the response near one of London's busiest landmarks.