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Man held by police outside Parliament | Man held by police outside Parliament |
(35 minutes later) | |
A man was brought down with a Taser outside the Palace of Westminster after he reached for a knife when approached by officers, Scotland Yard has said. | A man was brought down with a Taser outside the Palace of Westminster after he reached for a knife when approached by officers, Scotland Yard has said. |
A bearded man, wearing black trousers and a grey sweatshirt, was seen being held against the fence with his arms behind his back by a police officer. | A bearded man, wearing black trousers and a grey sweatshirt, was seen being held against the fence with his arms behind his back by a police officer. |
Police said the man was arrested on suspicion of possessing a knife. | Police said the man was arrested on suspicion of possessing a knife. |
But they "remain open minded as to whether terrorism was a motive", they said. | But they "remain open minded as to whether terrorism was a motive", they said. |
The man was held just yards from where PC Keith Palmer was stabbed to death by terrorist Khalid Masood in March. | The man was held just yards from where PC Keith Palmer was stabbed to death by terrorist Khalid Masood in March. |
Joe Murphy, London Evening Standard political editor, tweeted: "There were shouts of 'knife, knife, knife' and man was brought down with a Taser." | Joe Murphy, London Evening Standard political editor, tweeted: "There were shouts of 'knife, knife, knife' and man was brought down with a Taser." |
BBC deputy political editor John Pienaar said the latest incident ended very swiftly with the man being taken away in a police van. | BBC deputy political editor John Pienaar said the latest incident ended very swiftly with the man being taken away in a police van. |
While the gates are closed, the road and pavement opposite remained open and the incident had no effect on traffic in Parliament Square, he said. | |
In a statement, the Metropolitan Police said "it is too early to understand the motivation" of the man "so we have not declared this a terrorist incident". | In a statement, the Metropolitan Police said "it is too early to understand the motivation" of the man "so we have not declared this a terrorist incident". |
"However, given the location, the circumstances and recent tragic events, the MPS Counter Terrorism Command will be investigating this incident. | "However, given the location, the circumstances and recent tragic events, the MPS Counter Terrorism Command will be investigating this incident. |
"We remain open-minded as to whether terrorism was a motive." | "We remain open-minded as to whether terrorism was a motive." |
Eyewitness Bradley Allen, 19, from Barking, east London, who was walking past Parliament, said he saw a man "who looked quite angry with fists quite clenched". | Eyewitness Bradley Allen, 19, from Barking, east London, who was walking past Parliament, said he saw a man "who looked quite angry with fists quite clenched". |
"He stared at me and my mate and we walked past him. Within seconds there was a shout and police ran out of the front gate shouting at him 'Get on the floor, get on the ground'. | "He stared at me and my mate and we walked past him. Within seconds there was a shout and police ran out of the front gate shouting at him 'Get on the floor, get on the ground'. |
"Within seconds he was on the ground - I'm not sure whether he was Tasered - I'm not sure how he got down there, but in seconds it was over. | "Within seconds he was on the ground - I'm not sure whether he was Tasered - I'm not sure how he got down there, but in seconds it was over. |
"Armed police everywhere, telling everyone to move back, and we all got pushed back." | "Armed police everywhere, telling everyone to move back, and we all got pushed back." |
Security tightened | Security tightened |
Security around Westminster was tightened following the attack by Masood, who was shot dead after fatally stabbing PC Palmer as he guarded Carriage Gate. | Security around Westminster was tightened following the attack by Masood, who was shot dead after fatally stabbing PC Palmer as he guarded Carriage Gate. |
A review of security at the perimeter of the parliamentary estate was ordered by Commons Speaker John Bercow following the incident. | A review of security at the perimeter of the parliamentary estate was ordered by Commons Speaker John Bercow following the incident. |
The use of armed officers and physical barriers have become more visible, while a permanent barrier has been erected to protect pedestrians on Westminster Bridge, where Masood murdered five people and injured more than 50 others by mounting the pavement in a car. | The use of armed officers and physical barriers have become more visible, while a permanent barrier has been erected to protect pedestrians on Westminster Bridge, where Masood murdered five people and injured more than 50 others by mounting the pavement in a car. |