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Man carrying bag of knives near parliament arrested under Terrorism Act | Man carrying bag of knives near parliament arrested under Terrorism Act |
(35 minutes later) | |
A man has been arrested under the Terrorism Act after he was found carrying a bag of knives near the Houses of Parliament, the Metropolitan Police has confirmed. | |
Armed police cordoned off part of Whitehall on Thursday afternoon after the man was tackled and arrested by police "following a stop and search as part of an ongoing operation." | |
There are some suggestions he was known to police. | |
The man, aged in his late twenties, was arrested on suspicion of possession of an offensive weapon and on suspicion of the commission, preparation and instigation of acts of terrorism. | The man, aged in his late twenties, was arrested on suspicion of possession of an offensive weapon and on suspicion of the commission, preparation and instigation of acts of terrorism. |
He is being held in custody at a south London police station. | He is being held in custody at a south London police station. |
Detectives are continuing their investigation and as a result of the arrest there is no immediate known threat, police say. | Detectives are continuing their investigation and as a result of the arrest there is no immediate known threat, police say. |
Photos shared on social media show a large knife lying on the pavement on Parliament Street next to a smaller knife, and a policeman in forensic gear taking photographs of a bag abandoned next to them. | Photos shared on social media show a large knife lying on the pavement on Parliament Street next to a smaller knife, and a policeman in forensic gear taking photographs of a bag abandoned next to them. |
The suspect was reportedly wrestled to the ground on a traffic island at the Parliament end square of Whitehall, close to the Foreign Office and the entrance to Downing Street. | |
He was seen pinned up against the wall of the HMRC offices before being taken away in a police vehicle. | |
Eyewitnesses told the Evening Standard a man had been carrying “a rucksack of knives.” | Eyewitnesses told the Evening Standard a man had been carrying “a rucksack of knives.” |
Luke William told the newspaper he was driving past as police flooded the area. “There was a man being held against the wall by armed police. On the floor was a backpack with knives falling out of it.” | Luke William told the newspaper he was driving past as police flooded the area. “There was a man being held against the wall by armed police. On the floor was a backpack with knives falling out of it.” |
Photos showed a police cordon surrounding the bag, which had been discarded on a road traffic island. | Photos showed a police cordon surrounding the bag, which had been discarded on a road traffic island. |
The Metropolitan Police say are no reports of injuries. | |
Traffic was brought to a standstill northbound on Parliament Street as police detained the man. | |
The incident occurred just yards away from where Khalid Masood launched a terrorist attack that killed five people, including a police officer Keith Palmer, last month. | |
Masood crashed his car into pedestrians on Westminster Bridge, before stabbing Palmer to death on the forecourt of the Palace of Westminster. | Masood crashed his car into pedestrians on Westminster Bridge, before stabbing Palmer to death on the forecourt of the Palace of Westminster. |
In a tweet, Transport for London (TfL) said the area was closed due to a police incident, and that long delays should be expected. | In a tweet, Transport for London (TfL) said the area was closed due to a police incident, and that long delays should be expected. |