Police Speedboat Crashes into Westminster Bridge During Thames Rescue Attempt

LONDON — Five armed police officers were aboard an inflatable speedboat that collided with the historic stone arches of Westminster Bridge on Friday evening while responding to reports of a person in the River Thames. The incident occurred at approximately 7:05 p.m., causing significant disruption to traffic and pedestrian movement across one of London's most iconic thoroughfares.

The vessel, part of the Metropolitan Police Service's water unit, was dispatched after emergency services received urgent calls regarding an individual struggling in the river near the bridge. As the boat approached the scene at high speed to conduct a rescue operation, it struck the structure with considerable force. Initial assessments indicate that all five officers on board were secured by safety harnesses and life jackets designed for rapid response operations.

Emergency crews immediately established a cordon around the impact zone as medics attended to those involved. While no fatalities have been confirmed at this stage, authorities are treating several individuals for injuries ranging from minor cuts to potential fractures sustained during the collision. The person reported in the water was located and brought safely ashore by separate rescue teams before the boat crash occurred.

Westminster Bridge remained closed to all vehicular traffic following the impact as engineers inspected structural integrity concerns caused by the strike on the masonry arches. Pedestrian access was also restricted, forcing commuters to detour through nearby underground stations or cross via London Bridge and Waterloo Bridge further downstream. The closure has created a bottleneck of vehicles along Victoria Street and Whitehall.

Police spokespersons stated that an investigation into the circumstances surrounding the collision is underway. Officers are reviewing onboard data from the vessel's navigation systems, though details regarding whether mechanical failure, environmental conditions such as strong currents or high winds, or human error contributed to the crash remain unclear at this time. The river section near the bridge has been temporarily closed to recreational boating while investigators secure the scene.

Witnesses described a chaotic scene unfolding under the glow of streetlights and emergency vehicle flashers. "The boat came in fast," said one bystander who requested anonymity, noting that the impact sounded like metal striking stone before the vessel listed heavily to one side. Other observers reported seeing rescue workers pulling officers from the water within minutes.

As night fell over central London, authorities have not yet released a timeline for when Westminster Bridge will fully reopen. Questions remain regarding whether similar incidents could occur if river conditions worsen overnight and how long structural repairs might take given the historical significance of the bridge's construction dating back to 1862.