Police boat crashes into central London's Westminster Bridge, injuring five officers and sending three into the River Thames

A police boat responding to a report of a person in the River Thames crashed into Westminster Bridge on Friday, injuring five officers and sending three into the water. The incident occurred around 3:40 PM BST and involved a vessel from the Marine Policing Unit.¹²

Witnesses described seeing two boats speeding when one struck the bridge, creating a loud bang. Mateo Bilis-Lusevic, a 12-year-old tourist, recounted, "Two boats were riding extremely fast through the water. Suddenly, I heard a boom... three people went flying into the water, and one of the people was really hurt."

Emergency services quickly responded, with four officers hospitalized with serious but non-life-threatening injuries. One officer has since been discharged. The Metropolitan Police confirmed that no civilians were injured during the incident.⁴

A spokesperson for the Met stated, "The circumstances of the incident will be thoroughly reviewed, but at this stage our priority is the wellbeing of the officers involved." Cmdr Nick John praised the quick actions of nearby boaters who helped rescue the officers, stating, "The quick-thinking and professionalism of all those involved undoubtedly prevented any further injuries."

Traffic across Westminster Bridge was halted, and a cordon was established as emergency crews worked at the scene. The London Fire Brigade deployed a fire boat and rescue units to assist in the operation.

The Port of London Authority is collaborating with the Metropolitan Police and Coastguard to manage river traffic following the incident.