THE brutal terrorist attack in Westminster that saw four people killed – including a police officer – and 40 more injured ‘happened before our very eyes’, Runcorn's MP said.

Around 2.40pm yesterday an attacker, who has now been named as 52-year-old Khalid Masood, mowed down pedestrians on Westminster Bridge, killing two people and injuring around 40 more, before crashing into the railings in front of Parliament.

After entering the gate to the Palace of Westminster, he then stabbed unarmed PC Keith Palmer, 48, before being shot dead by armed officers.

Foreign Office minister Tobias Ellwood attempted to resuscitate PC Palmer, along with paramedics, but were unsuccessful.

Graham Evans, MP for Weaver Vale, was on the way to vote in the House of Commons at the time.

“It happened before our very eyes,” he said. “We were on our way to vote.

"Ministers were arriving and my colleague Tobias Ellwood was doing mouth to mouth on the police officer but unfortunately wasn’t able to save him, he lost too much blood.”

Mr Evans, a former policeman, said the attack has not come as a surprise, and said it was ‘bound to happen at some stage’.

“I am sorry to say we have been expecting it to happen,” he said. “We’ve been in a state of alert for several years now regarding an imminent attack, and it actually came true.

“Unfortunately four people were killed, including a very brave police constable, an unarmed police constable who was stabbed to death, murdered, just by the gates, attacked at Parliament.”

Mr Evans and other ministers spent five hours locked in the House of Commons Chamber in the immediate aftermath of the attack, as security services swept the building for further threats.

Mr Evans said: “We were waiting for a second attack. Sometimes terrorists lure security for a second attack. Fortunately that didn’t happen.

“Parliament was locked down until the security services checked the building, which took some time.”

Halton MP Derek Twigg was in the library in between votes when the attack happened.

He tried to get back into the chamber but all the doors were locked.

“There was a sudden influx of a huge number of armed police shouting and checking out all the rooms," he said.

“Everyone was calm and co-operating with the police.

“Their response and the way they carried out the search and evacuation was absolutely superb.”

The atmosphere around Westminster today, he said, was subdued.

“Everyone is still trying to take in what has happened.

He added: “My first thoughts are for those who lost their lives, the police officers and those badly injured and their families.”

“This was an attack on democracy but we can’t let the terrorists win.

“People in this country come together at moments like this.

“We can’t let it interfere with the running of parliament.”

Mr Evans also paid tribute to the security services as ministers reflected on yesterday's tragedy.

He said: “It was business as usual. We said a prayer at 9.30am, then had a minute’s silence.

“The Prime Minister then made a statement. I paid tribute to the security services and so did several of my colleagues, including Tobias, who did so well.

“It was business as usual but it was very, very sombre.”

Mr Evans said MPs have vowed to carry on as normal.

“You don’t let terrorist interfere with democracy,” he said.