LONDON, May 3 (NNN-AGENCIES) — A controlled explosion was held and a man was arrested outside Buckingham Palace after throwing suspected shotgun cartridges into palace grounds, police have said.
A cordon was put in place after the man was detained at around 19:00 BST on Tuesday after approaching the gates of the palace, Scotland Yard said.
He was arrested on suspicion of possession of an offensive weapon. Police said the man was searched and a knife was found, but he was not carrying a gun.
The man was also found to be in possession of a suspicious bag, the Metropolitan Police said. A controlled explosion was carried out as a precaution after an assessment from specialists.
The suspected shotgun cartridges have been recovered and will be examined by specialists.
Police said they are not treating the matter as terror-related.
The arrest comes just four days before the King’s Coronation celebrations – which will be attended by world leaders and other royals from around the world.
The King and the Queen Consort were not at Buckingham Palace at the time of the arrest.
Chief Superintendent Joseph McDonald said: “Officers worked immediately to detain the man and he has been taken into police custody.
“Officers remain at the scene and further enquiries are ongoing.”
A ring of steel is expected in the capital for the Coronation at Westminster Abbey on Saturday as policing minister Chris Philp described it as a “huge policing operation”. — NNN-AGENCIES
