A number of pedestrians have been injured and a man has been arrested after a car crashed into a security barrier outside the Houses of Parliament in central London on Tuesday morning during rush hour, according to London's Metropolitan Police.

Police said the male driver of the car was detained at the scene after the incident which happened just after 7:30 in the morning, local time.

The crash is being treated as a terrorist incident and counter terror police are leading the investigation, police added.

The driver was alone in the car and no weapons were recovered at the scene. He remains in custody in a south London police station.
London Ambulance Service said the two people treated for injuries were not believed to be in a serious condition. Both were taken to hospital.

Following the incident, the nearby Westminster Underground station was closed, according to Transport for London, while roads nearby were cordoned off.

The area is popular with tourists visiting the Houses of Parliament, Westminster Abbey and Big Ben.
Parliament is currently in summer recess.

Eyewitness Ewelina U. Ochab told CNN: “I was walking on the other side of the pavement from where the incident occurred. I heard some noise, and someone screamed. I turned around and I saw a silver car driving from the crossing – very fast and close to the railings, maybe even on the pavement.”

“The car drove at speed… There was a loud bang from the collusion and a bit if smoke. The driver did not get out. The guards started creaming to people to move away. One elderly man rushed me to hide behind a monument, just in case.”