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Police use CS spray in Parliament | Police use CS spray in Parliament |
(20 minutes later) | |
Police have used CS spray and arrested a man after a fight between journalists in the Houses of Parliament. | Police have used CS spray and arrested a man after a fight between journalists in the Houses of Parliament. |
The scuffle involved two guests at a Commons party hosted by Conservative chairman Eric Pickles on Monday night. | The scuffle involved two guests at a Commons party hosted by Conservative chairman Eric Pickles on Monday night. |
The pair, whom Tory sources identified as journalists, left the event but continued arguing and were stopped in the corridor by a police officer. | |
One man was aggressive and CS spray was used. He was arrested and taken to a nearby police station for questioning. | One man was aggressive and CS spray was used. He was arrested and taken to a nearby police station for questioning. |
Some of the guests at the event told the BBC they thought it was an over-reaction but Commons sources said a police officer received minor injuries in the incident. | |
Security questions | Security questions |
Commons authorities confirmed the incident had not been terrorist related or linked to the G20 meeting of world leaders in London later this week. | Commons authorities confirmed the incident had not been terrorist related or linked to the G20 meeting of world leaders in London later this week. |
It is understood that the incident happened in the corridor behind the Speaker's chair, at the same time as MPs were debating Africa. | It is understood that the incident happened in the corridor behind the Speaker's chair, at the same time as MPs were debating Africa. |
Sources said parliamentary sittings had not been disrupted. | Sources said parliamentary sittings had not been disrupted. |
PREVIOUS BREACHES February 2008: Anti-Heathrow expansion protesters climb on to the roof of ParliamentMarch 2007: Greenpeace campaigners scale a crane beside the Houses of Parliament over TridentSeptember 2004: Parliament has to be suspended after protesters get into the Commons chamber while MPs debate whether to ban hunting with dogsMay 2004: Tony Blair was hit by a condom filled with purple flour by campaigners from the pressure group Fathers 4 Justice Parliament's past security lapses | PREVIOUS BREACHES February 2008: Anti-Heathrow expansion protesters climb on to the roof of ParliamentMarch 2007: Greenpeace campaigners scale a crane beside the Houses of Parliament over TridentSeptember 2004: Parliament has to be suspended after protesters get into the Commons chamber while MPs debate whether to ban hunting with dogsMay 2004: Tony Blair was hit by a condom filled with purple flour by campaigners from the pressure group Fathers 4 Justice Parliament's past security lapses |
Labour MP Kerry McCarthy wrote on Twitter that she had heard the scuffle from within the chamber, adding: "We thought it was a protest, not a punch-up." | |
Her message said: "Was in chamber... Much excitement, banging and shouting." | |
The incident, involving two people who did not have House of Commons passes, will raise fresh questions about security at Westminster. | The incident, involving two people who did not have House of Commons passes, will raise fresh questions about security at Westminster. |
Parliamentary security has been breached on several occasions in recent years, notably when pro-hunting supporters invaded the Commons chamber in 2004. | Parliamentary security has been breached on several occasions in recent years, notably when pro-hunting supporters invaded the Commons chamber in 2004. |
Last year protesters from the Plane Stupid campaign group scaled the roof of Parliament to demonstrate against new airport runways. | Last year protesters from the Plane Stupid campaign group scaled the roof of Parliament to demonstrate against new airport runways. |
Mr Pickles was appointed party chairman in January, having previously been shadow communities secretary. He was hosting a reception for journalists. | Mr Pickles was appointed party chairman in January, having previously been shadow communities secretary. He was hosting a reception for journalists. |