Keith Palmer funeral: anti-terror crash barriers set up in 'ring of steel' for service to PC killed in Westminster attack

Mark Chandler10 April 2017

Hundreds of police were on patrol on streets surrounding Southwark Cathedral ahead of the funeral for PC Keith Palmer, who died in the line of duty during a terror attack in Westminster.

Temporary concrete barriers were erected at key junctions leading to Southwark Bridge and London Bridge ahead of the service for the hero police officer.

A 2km (1.2 mile) square area of London was completely closed to all road traffic. The area extends north of the river past Liverpool Street on Bishopsgate, with Southwark Bridge and London Bridge both closed off.

South of the river, closed roads extend west past the Tate Modern, and east to Tower Bridge Road and Great Dover Street.

Police officers on duty for the funeral close to the Shard

Blackfriars Bridge and Blackfriars Road are both open to traffic.

Police with sniffer dogs patrolled the route the cortège will pass through while dozens of officers passed along the roads on motorbikes and in vans.

Roads were blocked off as part of a 2km square area that was closed to traffic for the funeral

Other officers were seen searching bins and alleyways to make sure the route was safe.

With crowds of people expected to line the streets, metal barriers were also set up along the roadside.

There was heightened security around the cathedral itself with officers on guard at key entrance points.

PC Keith Palmer Funeral - In pictures

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The husband of Zoe Bowden, 42, a retail worker from Stevenage, works for the Met.

She said: "We want to show our support really. It could have been any of our other halves.

"When that happens it's very scary. You pick up the phone straight away to make sure they're ok."

The red zone ring of steel where traffic is forbidden today

She said: "I think this is amazing. I don't think they expecting this many police officers from different forces coming. It shows we all stand together. All the forces stand together.

"It doesn't change it but it shows massive support to the family."

She said: "I'm just proud to be British and proud to be here. I'd have come anyway if my partner wasn't in the Met.

"They do a fantastic job. It's not always recognised and it should be. While we all run away they run towards it."

Barry Laws, 67, from Rutland in the Midlands stopped to watch the barriers being set up with wife Judy, 63, and grand daughter Madeleine, 7

A convoy of police bikes on patrol
Jeremy Selwyn

Mr Laws said: "It's a lovely tribute to give him this funeral. It's what he deserves. He's been given an honour that's usually reserved for royals."

"Terrorists are trying to make us all frightened so they can control us. Now it's Stockholm, where next?

A police riot van and police car close to Southwark Cathedral

"This shows we can stand up against it. That's what we need to do. We love coming to London. It's never going to stop us."

Thousands of people are expected to attend the funeral later, including more than 5,000 police officers from up and down the country.

It is thought to be the largest ever gathering of police officers in Britain.

About 50 members of PC Palmer’s heartbroken family including his wife, five-year-old daughter, mother and father, brother and sisters will also attend the service.

Streets were deserted as the closures came into effect

PC Palmer's coffin was taken to rest in the Chapel of St Mary Undercroft in Westminster by Met Police escort on Sunday.

To lie in the chapel is a rare honour usually given to heads of state and was allowed thanks to special permission given by the Queen.

The first of an estimated 5,000 police officers arrive for the service

At around 1.30pm today, PC Palmer's body will be taken from Westminster to the cathedral for a full funeral.

Ken Marsh, chairman of the Met Police Federation, said the response to PC Palmer's death had been "incredible."

He said: "The public are as appalled by what happened as the police. At times they can be our biggest critics but when something like this happens they come together with us, because they don’t like someone hurting one of their own.

"I can’t recall an occasion like this in regard to the number of officers who will be there, but we must not lose sight of the fact that it is a family funeral.

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