LONDON — A police boat crashed into Westminster Bridge in central London on Friday, sending members of its marine unit into the River Thames and injuring five officers, the Metropolitan Police said. Paramedics treated the injured on a black inflatable boat as a police helicopter hovered overhead near the clock tower that houses the bell known as Big Ben. It wasn’t immediately clear what the boat was doing at the time or how it crashed, though the Met said it would be thoroughly reviewed. There was no immediate information on the extent of injuries. Police did not believe any civilians were involved or hurt. A large crowd gathered on the bridge to watch as ambulances and fire crews responded. A Port of London Authority spokesperson said it was helping manage river traffic and was working with the Metropolitan Police and the Coastguard.
