A pane of glass in the roof of Portcullis House at the British Parliament shattered on Tuesday, causing water to rain down into the atrium.
Parliamentary staff were quick to react, clearing and cordoning off the area and posting warning signs to keep people safe.
A large puddle of water had formed alongside pieces of broken glass on the floor.
A House of Commons spokesman said: "Teams are currently attending to an issue with the atrium roof at Portcullis House.
"The central part of the atrium has been cordoned off, with additional safety mitigations implemented to allow us to continue our investigations.
"Committee meetings are still scheduled to take place, with amended access routes. Catering facilities remain open."
An image of the leaking ceiling was shared on Twitter.
Mervyn Thomas, a researcher for the Bishop of Guildford and Chief People Officer at Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office, who was in Portcullis House at the time, described a loud noise, followed by a gush of water pouring through the broken glass.
“A huge deluge, it was a big bang. I didn't know what it was, and then it carried on, it slowly went down to a trickle eventually,” he said.
Mr Thomas said he did not believe anyone was injured in the incident.
He also commended the speed at which staff cleared the area, with “people there within minutes”, he said.
About Parliament's Portcullis House
Portcullis House, within the Palace of Westminster, serves as the headquarters for the House of Commons.
Designed by architect Michael Hopkins and Partners, the building opened in 2001.
It takes its name from its portcullis, a medieval gate used historically to safeguard the entrance to the Palace of Westminster.
The portcullis symbolises the House of Commons and is incorporated into the building's logo.
The 10-storey building is on the Palace of Westminster's west side adjacent to the River Thames. It has a glass-and-steel exterior and a spiral staircase inside.
Portcullis House also features offices, meeting rooms and a library for MPs, along with a restaurant, bar and gym.
Safety 'top priority' for rival hyperloop company
The chief operating officer of Hyperloop Transportation Technologies, Andres de Leon, said his company's hyperloop technology is “ready” and safe.
He said the company prioritised safety throughout its development and, last year, Munich Re, one of the world's largest reinsurance companies, announced it was ready to insure their technology.
“Our levitation, propulsion, and vacuum technology have all been developed [...] over several decades and have been deployed and tested at full scale,” he said in a statement to The National.
“Only once the system has been certified and approved will it move people,” he said.
HyperloopTT has begun designing and engineering processes for its Abu Dhabi projects and hopes to break ground soon.
With no delivery date yet announced, Mr de Leon said timelines had to be considered carefully, as government approval, permits, and regulations could create necessary delays.
Timeline
2012-2015
The company offers payments/bribes to win key contracts in the Middle East
May 2017
The UK SFO officially opens investigation into Petrofac’s use of agents, corruption, and potential bribery to secure contracts
September 2021
Petrofac pleads guilty to seven counts of failing to prevent bribery under the UK Bribery Act
October 2021
Court fines Petrofac £77 million for bribery. Former executive receives a two-year suspended sentence
December 2024
Petrofac enters into comprehensive restructuring to strengthen the financial position of the group
May 2025
The High Court of England and Wales approves the company’s restructuring plan
July 2025
The Court of Appeal issues a judgment challenging parts of the restructuring plan
August 2025
Petrofac issues a business update to execute the restructuring and confirms it will appeal the Court of Appeal decision
October 2025
Petrofac loses a major TenneT offshore wind contract worth €13 billion. Holding company files for administration in the UK. Petrofac delisted from the London Stock Exchange
November 2025
180 Petrofac employees laid off in the UAE
Living in...
This article is part of a guide on where to live in the UAE. Our reporters will profile some of the country’s most desirable districts, provide an estimate of rental prices and introduce you to some of the residents who call each area home.
Quick pearls of wisdom
Focus on gratitude: And do so deeply, he says. “Think of one to three things a day that you’re grateful for. It needs to be specific, too, don’t just say ‘air.’ Really think about it. If you’re grateful for, say, what your parents have done for you, that will motivate you to do more for the world.”
Know how to fight: Shetty married his wife, Radhi, three years ago (he met her in a meditation class before he went off and became a monk). He says they’ve had to learn to respect each other’s “fighting styles” – he’s a talk it-out-immediately person, while she needs space to think. “When you’re having an argument, remember, it’s not you against each other. It’s both of you against the problem. When you win, they lose. If you’re on a team you have to win together.”
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
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