MP Yasmin Qureshi spoke to the police officer killed in the London terror attacks just hours before he died.

The MP for Bolton South East spoke of her upset after finding out 48-year-old PC Keith Palmer had been killed in the attack and described him as a “brave man” who served his country.

She paid tribute as police and anti-terror officers arrested eight people and named the attacker as Khalid Masood.

She said: “I was waiting outside for my brother who was bringing my car to Parliament.

“I was standing with the police officer at about lunchtime, 12.15pm, speaking to him for 15 to 20 minutes as my brother was stuck in traffic.

“We were talking about the weather because it was raining and also about Prime Minister’s Question Time.

“When the attack happened Parliament was put on lockdown and we were not allowed to leave until 7.30pm.”

It was later Ms Qureshi, who was back in Bolton today to carry out her constituency duties, found out the police officer she had been talking to earlier that day had been killed.

She said: “I was upset when I found out, I can’t express in words, he was very friendly, very nice. He was in the army and had served his country twice and that day he protected people. He was a brave man.”

Ms Qureshi said her thoughts were with all those who had been caught up in the terror attacks.

She added: “I feel for those people who were in Westminster, it is a busy area, with tourists who were enjoying themselves.”

She called for unity among people in light of the terror attack.

Ms Qureshi said: “We should not let the voices of hate divide us.”

David Crausby, MP for Bolton North, said there was a “genuine feeling of sadness” over Westminster as Parliament reconvened today.

Mr Crausby said: “The people we need to think about are the families who have lost someone in the attacks.”

He added that security was tighter than usual around Westminster. And he said Parliamentary work was continuing as usual – stressing it was important not to let the actions of terrorists change the way of life in the country.

Mr Crausby said: “The police officer, an individual, put his life on the line to defend us and our democracy. There is a genuine feeling of sadness.”

Prayers of peace will be held in Bolton to remember the four victims of the attack. They will be held on Sunday at Swaminarayan Mandir in Deane Road, starting at 4pm.

The vigil has been organised by Bolton Interfaith Council.

Chan Parmar, from Bolton Interfaith Council, said: “The ceremony will include prayers for peace and candle lighting from our diverse communities.

“It is also about communities coming together for unity – peace and understanding that such acts of hatred through twisted ideology has no place in our peaceful country or indeed anywhere in the world.”

The terror attacker has been named as Khalid Masood.

He was born in Kent and detectives believe he was most recently living in the West Midlands. Islamic State claimed the killer was one of its “soldiers”.

MPs held a minute’s silence in honour of the innocent people killed in the attack.

Prime Minister Theresa May delivered a statement with details of the atrocity.

In a defiant message to a packed House of Commons, Mrs May said: “We will never waver in the face of terrorism.”

Paying tribute to PC Keith Palmer, who died after being stabbed, she said: “He was every inch a hero and his actions will never be forgotten.”