Police boat crashes into Westminster Bridge, five injured

A police boat carrying armed officers crashed into Westminster Bridge in central London on Friday afternoon, July 24, 2026, sending several officers into the River Thames and injuring five. All officers were recovered from the water and received medical treatment, with no injuries reported among the public.

The incident occurred at approximately 3:45 p.m. when a vessel from the Metropolitan Police's Marine Policing Unit struck the bridge. A significant emergency response was immediately launched, involving the Metropolitan Police, London Ambulance Service, London Fire Brigade, HM Coastguard, and the Port of London Authority. Paramedics treated the injured officers on a rigid black inflatable boat moored at the riverbank, while a police helicopter and air ambulance circled overhead.

Eyewitnesses described a dramatic scene. Mateo Bilis-Lusevic, a 12-year-old visitor from Chile who was on a tour boat with his mother, said he saw two boats moving at high speed before hearing a loud boom. He reported seeing three people thrown into the water, with one appearing seriously hurt. He estimated the officers were in the water for about 10 minutes before being rescued, with a life ring...