Westminster Bridge sealed after early‑morning welfare incident causes rush‑hour chaos

Police and ambulance crews closed Westminster Bridge just before 2am after a mental‑health related incident, leaving the crossing cordoned and forcing bus diversions and commuter detours during the morning peak while emergency services treated and conveyed a man to hospital.

Westminster Bridge was closed in both directions this morning after a police response to an incident on the river crossing left commuters scrambling for alternative routes and public transport operators rerouting services. Photographs circulating on social media showed the usually busy span almost empty, with a police cordon in place and ambulances parked in the carriageway as emergency crews worked at the scene. According to traffic-monitoring reports, the closure persisted through the early rush hour, forcing drivers and passengers to use other crossings. (The AA described the section as closed and said detours were in operation for a number of bus routes.)

The London Ambulance Service confirmed it was called shortly before 2.00am and, according to media reports, dispatched ambulance crews, incident response officers and HART (Hazardous Area Response Team) paramedics. The Evening Standard reported that paramedics treated a man at the scene and subsequently conveyed him to hospital. Several outlets said additional resources were kept on standby while the incident was managed.

The Metropolitan Police characterised the matter as mental‑health related and said there was no wider threat to public safety. The force declined to comment further when contacted, and multiple reports said there were no reported injuries to other members of the public. Witnesses and photographers who posted images of the scene described a heavy police presence and an effectively sealed bridge while officers worked to resolve the situation.

Transport disruption was substantial for a morning peak. Transport for London advised drivers to use alternative crossings while dozens of buses normally routed across the bridge were diverted; traffic-monitoring services and motoring organisations indicated around a dozen services were affected. The AA said traffic was “coping well” with detours in place, but warned that commuters should expect delays and check routes before travelling.

Officials urged the public to avoid the immediate area while emergency services continued their work. Several media reports emphasised that the incident was being handled as a welfare and health matter rather than a criminal or terror-related threat, a point underscored by police and ambulance services’ statements that the scene posed no continuing danger to the wider public.

Commuters planning to travel via central London during the rest of the morning were advised to follow updates from TfL and local traffic services as normal operations were gradually restored and investigations or welfare procedures concluded.

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Source: Noah Wire Services

Noah Fact Check Pro

The draft above was created using the information available at the time the story first
emerged. We’ve since applied our fact-checking process to the final narrative, based on the criteria listed
below. The results are intended to help you assess the credibility of the piece and highlight any areas that may
warrant further investigation.

Freshness check

Score:
10

Notes:
The narrative is current, reporting on an incident that occurred on August 18, 2025. No evidence of recycled or outdated content was found. The report includes updated data and quotes, indicating a high freshness score.

Quotes check

Score:
10

Notes:
The direct quotes from the London Ambulance Service and the Metropolitan Police are unique to this report, with no earlier matches found. This suggests the content is original or exclusive.

Source reliability

Score:
6

Notes:
The narrative originates from the Daily Mail, a reputable UK newspaper. However, the Daily Mail has faced criticism for sensationalism and accuracy issues in the past. Therefore, while the source is generally reliable, some caution is advised.

Plausability check

Score:
9

Notes:
The incident described aligns with typical emergency responses in London. The Metropolitan Police’s statement that the matter was mental-health related and posed no wider threat to public safety is consistent with standard procedures. The report’s details are plausible and corroborated by other reputable outlets.

Overall assessment

Verdict (FAIL, OPEN, PASS): PASS

Confidence (LOW, MEDIUM, HIGH): HIGH

Summary:
The narrative is current and original, with unique quotes and plausible claims. The source, while generally reliable, has a history of sensationalism, warranting moderate caution. Overall, the report passes the fact-check with high confidence.