London police boat crash injures five officers on Westminster Bridge
A Metropolitan Police river boat collided with Westminster Bridge in central London on Friday, July 24 2026. The impact threw five armed officers into the River Thames; three fell directly into the water and the others were swept away before being rescued.
Rescue crews responded with a lifeboat, paramedics and a police helicopter circling the iconic clock tower. Witnesses, including a 12‑year‑old Chilean visitor, reported hearing a loud boom and seeing two boats travelling at high speed before the crash. The incident caused the bridge to be closed to traffic while emergency services attended the scene.
Police said there were no civilian injuries and that the cause of the collision remains under investigation. All five officers were taken to hospital with serious injuries; one has since been discharged, while the remaining four remain under medical care.
Entities: Five police officers · London · Metropolitan Police Service · River Thames · Westminster Bridge
Claims
What the coverage asserts, and how well corroborated each claim is across sources.
- [○ 1 SOURCE] No civilians were injured in the incident. (Metropolitan Police statement.)
- [● 2 SOURCES] The officers were thrown into the River Thames. (Witness accounts and police statements.)
- [● 15 SOURCES] A Metropolitan Police river boat collided with Westminster Bridge in London. (Police reports and multiple news outlets.)
- [● 15 SOURCES] Five police officers were injured in the crash. (Multiple news reports.)
- [● 2 SOURCES] The cause of the crash is under investigation with no immediate clarity. (Police spokesperson.)
- [○ 1 SOURCE] A 12‑year‑old Chilean visitor reported hearing a boom and seeing fast boats before the crash. (Witness interview.)
- [○ 1 SOURCE] Rescue crews used a lifeboat and a police helicopter during the response. (Police press release.)
- [○ 1 SOURCE] The incident occurred on Friday, 24 July 2026. (News reports.)