A woman has died after a van collided with pedestrians on the Strand in central London.
Police and paramedics scrambled to the scene on the junction with Melbourne Place, Aldwych just after 12pm on Tuesday.
A woman in her 20s has been pronounced dead at the scene, officers said. Two pedestrians have been taken to hospital, one with potentially life-threatening injuries.
Scotland Yard said the incident, which happened close to the entrance to King's College London and Somerset House, was not terror related.
Photographs taken at the scene show paramedics treating a person on the ground.
In a statement, police said: “The driver of the van, a 26-year-old man was arrested at the scene on suspicion causing death by careless driving and driving with concentration of specified controlled drug above specified limit.
“He remains in custody.”
There is significant traffic disruption in the area and members of the public are urged to avoid the location while emergency services continue their response.
This is a developing story. See the latest updates below...
That's all from us today
19:21 , Daniel KeaneOur live coverage of the incident has now ended.
Pictures from the scene
18:52Here is a recap of what the scene looked like shortly after the heartbreaking crash earlier today.
Video: Woman killed and two injured after van crash in central London
17:46 , Daniel KeaneDriver 'made sharp turn and rammed into fence', says student
17:15 , Daniel KeaneMiles Damone, a student at King's, has been speaking to the BBC about the incident.
He said: "The van came from one of the side roads by the Indian Embassy and then at this point - I didn't see how or when - crashed into the people.
“I just saw it coming from there, [it] made a sharp turn and just rammed into the fence.”
Pictured: Ambulances at the scene
16:50 , Daniel KeaneWitness heard 'bang' and 'screams' at time of accident
16:34 , Daniel KeaneA witness who gave his name as Josh said he heard a "bang" and "screams" at the time of the accident.
He said the van involved had driven out of a nearby service yard and through a gate before a group of people rushed over to help the victims.
He added: "We all went over there and then obviously one of my mates, he went in there, grabbed some first aiders and came out, we tried to get people away and all that."
A dark blue van with a smashed headlight and a dent on the front right corner remained by the police cordon on Tuesday afternoon.
Recap: everything we know so far
16:18 , Daniel Keane- A woman has died after a van collided with pedestrians on the Strand in central London
- The woman, in her 20s, was pronounced dead at the scene
- Two pedestrians have been taken to hospital, one with potentially life-threatening injuries
- The Met said the incident is not terror-related
Pictured: A police tent erected outside King's College campus
16:03 , Daniel KeanePolice cordon remains in place
15:52 , Daniel KeaneA police cordon next to the Strand entrance of Somerset House was in place on Tuesday afternoon, stretching up to the St Mary le Strand church.
Around three police vehicles were also present at the scene.
'Everyone was freaked out' says student
15:34 , Megan HoweAkarsh Jain, an estates management student at King's said students were "shaken up" by the crash.
"I was in the college and I heard that there was some incident going on, and everyone was freaked out.
“It's so strange because you're not allowed to enter the campus with a van, it must have come from the opposite direction because the way the van entered normal cars, even the access cars can't [come that way].
“It's absolutely shocking.
“We were all getting the screenshots and pictures saying there's an accident ... the classes are still going on but people have a big shift and they're not able to focus on their academics for the day because there's messages on every group saying this is going on."
Four people treated by London Ambulance Service
14:25 , Megan HoweA London Ambulance Service spokesperson said: “We were called today (Tuesday) at 11.39am to reports of an incident in The Strand, WC2.
“We sent resources to the scene including ambulance crews, advanced paramedics, an incident response officer, a clinical team manager and London’s air ambulance.”
“We treated four people at the scene. Sadly, despite our best efforts one person was pronounced dead.
“We took two other people to hospital and one was discharged at scene.”
Statement from London Fire Bridgade
14:11 , Megan HoweLondon Fire Brigade has issued a statement following the fatal collision on The Strand this afternoon.
A spokesperson said: “A van collided with pedestrians. Sadly one woman died at the scene. Two pedestrians have been taken to hospital.
“Two fire engines and around 10 firefighters from Dowgate and Lambeth fire stations were in attendance.
“Crews assisted our emergency service partners from the Met police and London Ambulance Service at the scene.
“The Brigade's 999 Control officers were alerted to the incident at 11.51 and it was over for the Brigade by 13.04.”
'It raises a lot of questions', student says
14:08 , Megan HoweOur reporter Josh Salisbury spoke to Giangiacomo, a 20-year-old economics student at King's, who arrived at the scene as emergency services were helping the injured.
He told the Standard how he saw two or three bodies lying on the floor and paramedics attempting to give CPR to one of those injured.
“I saw all of these cars, police ambulance, fire, there was about 20 of them. And it was a bit cordoned off and you see could see everything,” he said.
“There were at least two if not three people on the floor, one being reanimated, being given CPR. No one knew what happened and later the news came out that it was a van crashing into them on the street.”
Giangiacomo said the incident raises a lot of questions “because vans, cars, are not supposed to be on that side of the square because they usually pass on the right side”.
“I can't say if it's intentional or not but it's very weird,” he added.
“It's hard on everyone because we all sit on those benches, have lunch, it's a pedestrian area. So it not being safe for us is quite difficult, quite scary.”
'I was disorientated, I thought it was a protest', PHD student says
14:01 , Megan HoweAli, a PhD student at King's College London, who did not wish to share his surname, was leaving class when he saw emergency services gathered near the scene.
The 28-year-old said he initially thought emergency services were there for a protest outside the university, until he saw ambulance workers carrying stretchers.
"I was just walking out of class... at first I was disoriented, I thought it was a protest because it usually happens, but it's something else entirely," he said.
"(Now knowing a woman has died) it is so sad and hard to process - my thoughts go out to her family and friends.
"We walk by that crossing all the time and it's pedestrianised, barely any vehicles pass."
Police appeal for witnesses
13:59 , Megan HoweAnyone with information about the incident this afternoon is asked to contact police on 101 or post @MetCC ref CAD 2771/18MARCH.
Information can be given anonymously by contacting the independent charity Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.
Incident is 'shocking', says student
13:43 , Daniel KeaneAnother student, who did not want to give their name, said: "A friend messaged me and said that a van had driven into three people.
“It's shocking because they don't normally close off such a big stretch of the road. I don't know what happened.”
King's College students say driver 'could have driven on pavement'
13:42 , Daniel KeaneOur reporter Josh Salisbury is at the scene on the Strand speaking to witnesses.
A student at nearby King's College said: "The first I heard about it I was in the library and a friend texted me asking if I was safe because a van had hit some people. And I said yeah I was safe.
“But I don't know how it happened because there are bollards on the sides, unless he came around that way. He could have driven on the pavement on the left side. I'm here because I was just checking up on my friends from LSE as well."
Woman dead and man arrested on suspicion of drug driving
13:32 , Daniel KeaneOne woman has died and a man has been arrested on suspicion of drug driving, police have said.
The Met said in a statement: "Three pedestrians suffered injuries, with a woman in her twenties sadly pronounced dead at the scene.
“Two pedestrians have been taken to hospital, one has potentially life-threatening injuries, and the other has minor injuries.
"The driver of the van, a 26-year-old man was arrested at the scene on suspicion causing death by careless driving and driving with concentration of specified controlled drug above specified limit.
"He remains in custody.
"Enquiries are ongoing and a crime scene is in place.
"This collision is not being treated as terrorism-related.”
Incident is not terror-related, say police
13:27 , Daniel KeaneScotland Yard ahas said the incident, which happened close to the entrance to King's College London, was not terror-related.
Photographs taken at the scene show paramedics treating a person on the ground.
Strand closed to traffic from Surrey St westbound
13:17The Strand is closed from Surrey Street westbound to Waterloo Bridge.
But according to the BBC, eastbound traffic can still use the road.
Pictured: Emergency services at the scene on The Strand
13:14 , Daniel Keane
Two bus routes diverted as TfL advises commuters to expect delays
13:12 , Daniel KeaneTwo bus routes, the No 9 and 23, have been diverted around the Aldwych area.
Transport for London advised commuters to expect delays and rerouting along the Strand and surrounding streets.
Two injured in incident and public urged to stay away
13:11 , Daniel KeaneAccording to reports, London Ambulance Service confirmed two casualties are being treated at the scene but the extent of their injuries has not yet been confirmed.
There is significant traffic disruption in the area and members of the public are urged to avoid the location while emergency services continue their response.
What we know so far
13:10 , Daniel KeaneHere is a rundown of everything we know so far:
- A van has crashed into pedestrians near Somerset House
- Police have put up a cordon at the scene but say the incident is not terror-related
- The London Fire Brigade and London Ambulance Service are also in attendance
