LONDON, Oct 2 (NNN-AGENCIES) — London police said they detained a man who was dousing himself with what appeared to be a
flammable liquid outside parliament.
“The man, who had a lighter, was sprayed with a fire extinguisher,” the
Metropolitan Police said in a statement. “There was no ignition and the man
was detained.”
The man was assessed by ambulance workers and taken to hospital. His age or condition were not immediately released.
One lawmaker who was at the scene tweeted the substance “smells like
petrol”.
Huw Merriman, the Conservative MP for Bexhill and Battle, who witnessed the incident, tweeted his praise for the police who he said had responded bravely and quickly.
He wrote: “Man next to me at Parliament’s carriage gates appears to have poured (what smells like) petrol on himself. Incredibly brave response from police, who are now helping him.”
London Fire Brigade and London Ambulance Service raced to the scene and the man was sprayed down with a fire extinguisher.
He was detained under the Mental Health Act and it is understood the protest was not politically motivated, with one officer at the scene claiming he had been complaining about a parking ticket.
The incident came against a background of heightened tension over Britain’s imminent departure from the European Union, which has divided the country.
MPs are currently debating ways to make sure Britain does not crash out of
the EU without a negotiated agreement on its October 31 departure date. — NNN-AGENCIES