Police search Thames after man 'jumps off' Westminster Bridge

A rescue operation was launched on the Thames after a man apparently jumped off Westminster Bridge.

Boats were seen scouring the river after reports of a man, aged in his 20s, falling into the water just before 11.30am on Wednesday. Police said the incident was not being treated as suspicious.

It came just hours before a hand-holding vigil was due to be held on the bridge in memory of the four people killed by Khalid Masood in last week’s attack on Westminster.

Pictures from the scene showed lifeboats and police boats searching the river, while police cars, ambulances and a fire engine waited on the bridge.

A Met spokesman said: “We were called to Westminster Bridge at 11.29 to reports of a man in the water.

“Emergency services are in attendance and are trying to locate the man, reported to be aged in his mid 20s.”

One lane on Westminster Bridge was closed to traffic while emergency services carried out the rescue operation.

Passers-by, many of whom had gone to the bridge to pay their respects to last week's fallen, were shocked to see the bridge flooded with emergency vehicles again exactly one week later.

Twitter user Luke Heydenrych wrote: "Film crew spotted someone go over #WestminsterBridge, and rescue survives are now searching in the water for them.

"Rescue services reacted fast and hard at work, still searching for person seen falling from #WestminsterBridge. #London"

The unsuccessful search was called off shortly before 2pm. A Met spokesman confirmed to the Standard: "After an extensive search it has been called off and the man has not been located at this time."

In a separate incident, police were called to reports of a woman falling into the river from the south east corner of Westminster Bridge at 13.11pm. She was recovered safely and placed in NHS care.

Thousands of police officers were set to join hands and and march across Westminster Bridge at 2.40pm, exactly one week after Masood ploughed a 4X4 into crowds on the bridge before crashing into the gates of the Palace of Westminster and stabbing PC Keith Palmer to death.

In a show of defiance and solidarity, officers from across London plan to join hands and walk the length of the bridge in a bid to show terrorists “they will not achieve anything” by attacking the capital.

As many as 3,000 officers are expected to join the vigil, organised by Westminster Police, alongside members of the public.