The shocking moment armed police shot a man wielding two 10inch knives has been captured on camera.
Footage shared by The Sun shows police pointing weapons at the suspect, who had been tasered six times, before the fatal shot was fired in Westminster.
Ministry of Defence police on patrol in Westminster noticed a man they ‘believed to be acting suspiciously’ outside the Houses of Parliament at around 11.30pm on Sunday.
Shocking footage captures the moment armed police fatally shot a man who was carrying two 10in knives in Westminster, London. Officers had already tasered the suspect six times
When they approached him he pulled out two knives. The suspect was Tasered three times but managed to run off across Hungerford Bridge and Met Police were called.
A source told MailOnline: ‘The suspect was stopped initially by the MoD police outside the Houses of Parliament where he pulled two large knives on officers.
‘The officers tasered the man three times but he managed to run over Hungerford Bridge.
‘Once over the other side, Officers from the Met, responding to an alert of a knife man on the loose, challenged him and because he was still acting aggressively he was tasered a further two times.
‘This still didn’t subdue him and he somehow managed to escape again and ran off towards Whitehall into Great Scotland Yard – where he was tasered once more by the City of London Police who then shot him once in the stomach. He died from that gunshot wound.’
Forensic officers are pictured above on the scene where a man was tasered six times and fatally shot in Westminster, London
A forensic service vehicle was seen parked up and a police cordon was put in place after the incident
No police officers or members of the public were injured during the incident.
A French tourist returning to his hotel said the man, described as black and about 5ft 7 tall, was challenged by officers who shouted ‘Stop, police’.
The man carried on walking and was tasered in the arm but ran off into Great Scotland Yard in Westminster where he was fatally shot.
The 39-year-old tourist, who only gave his name as Florian, said he and his partner had come to the UK from Normandy in France for the Crufts dog show.
Armed police shot a man dead in Westminster, central London, on Sunday night. Pictured (left and right) are police at the scene
He was returning to the Citidines Hotel near Tafalgar Square shortly before midnight last night when the drama unfolded.
Florian told MailOnline: ‘There was one police car and two officers who were shouting for a man to stop.
‘They yelled “police, stop” but he carried on walking so they tasered him.
‘It didn’t do anything, however, as the man had quite a thick dark jacket on. He ran off into a side street and I heard a gunshot moments later.
‘I didn’t see any weapons on the man at that time. He was a black male, not very tall, around 5ft7, and looked to be aged in his 30s.
‘It was quite a shocking thing to see on the streets of London.’
The incident has been referred to the Independent Office for Police Conduct, the same body investigating allegations two officers drove dangerously arriving to last month’s terror attack in Streatham.
Chairman of the Metropolitan Police Federation Ken Marsh called on the IOPC to conclude its investigation quickly.
He said: ‘While we understand and appreciate incidents such as this must be fully investigated, we call on the IOPC to bring this matter to a swift conclusion.’
Mr Marsh said the officers involved have the full support of the Federation, which represents officers from the rank of constable to chief inspector.
‘Once again this incident shows our brave colleagues running towards and confronting a fast developing, dynamic and dangerous incident protecting the public at all hours.
‘It’s what police officers do. We are the best of the best.
Police officers were pictured on the scene in the early hours of this morning after a cordon was put in place. Earlier the suspect had been tasered six times before he was fatally shot
‘Who knows how this incident could have ended – it could have been catastrophic. The public should be very proud that they have a police service – and heroic officers within it – that keep them safe.
‘Our thoughts are with our colleagues as they now go through the Post Incident process, and it goes without saying that they have our full support.’
Roads in the area were closed while as police gathered evidence.
Northumberland Avenue was closed between Victoria Embankment and Trafalgar Square with Whitehall also closed southbound, Transport for London said.
The Met tweeted: ‘A man has been shot dead by officers following an incident in #Westminster at 23:27hrs on Sunday, 8 March.
‘This is NOT being treated as a terrorist incident. Officers remain on scene and updates will follow. Road closures remain in place.’
Police officers were seen advising pedestrians after the road was closed off after the incident late last night
Video footage taken near the scene showed police vehicles near where the shooting took place.
A spokesman for the force said: ‘A man has been shot by armed officers in Westminster.
‘Police officers were on patrol at around 23:25hrs on Sunday, 8 March, when they noticed a man who they believed to be acting suspiciously.
‘Officers challenged the man who produced two knives.
‘Armed officers responded. TASER and a police firearm were discharged during the incident.
A man armed with two knives was shot dead by police in an incident that is not being treated as terror-related
‘London Ambulance Service attended and the man was pronounced dead at the scene at Great Scotland Yard short time later.
‘Enquiries into the circumstances remain ongoing. The incident is not being not being treated as terrorism.’
The Met said The Directorate of Professional Standards and the IOPC has been informed of the shooting.