A bomb squad has been called to investigate a suspicious vehicle near Parliament after a suspected terror attack.
An announcement made in parliament said the discovery had halted a planned evacuation.
Lord Brian Paddick said there was a "suspect package" outside Parliament which police have had to deal with before the building can be evacuated.
"There was a suspect package attached to a vehicle outside Parliament," the retired police officer told the BBC.
"Armed officers searched the whole of the Parliament estate to make sure there were no suspects outstanding."
It came after a police officer was stabbed and an alleged assailant shot by armed police outside the Houses of Parliament.
A woman has also been confirmed dead and a number of others are injured after a car rammed into members of the public on Westminster Bridge.
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