Wyre MP attends emergency COBRA meeting after London attack

Wyre MP and security minister Ben Wallace MP, pictured previously with Chief Constable of Northumbria Police, Steve Ashman

The cross-departmental meeting was chaired by Prime Minister Theresa May after four people were killed and scores more injured, some critically, in a terrorist attack close to Parliament.

Speaking on BBC 5 Live this morning, Mr Wallace, who is also a minister of state for security, said he was 'effectively locked down' after hearing gunshots ring out through Westminster yesterday afternoon.

He said: "When these incidents happen we stand back and let the professionals go on with their job, which is keeping us safe, following up on the incident and pursuing their investigations, getting to the bottom of the incident.

"The role of the government is to support with resources."

Mr Wallace said MPs were continuing their business as usual today because that is 'what that individual yesterday tried to stop', and added: "We have the best intelligence service in the world, and the finest and best police who, right now, up and down the country, are not only investigating this incident but also making sure other incidents don't happen."

He also praised fellow MP Tobias Ellwood, who tried to save stabbed police officer Keith Palmer's life by giving CPR and mouth-to-mouth resuscitation.

He added: "Tobias is a good friend of mine and should be commended for doing what he did.

"I think the urgency to which he faced danger and went to help to try to save PC Palmer is commendable, but also he did it alongside people who were also doing that, the ambulance service and members of the public."