A man was arrested outside the Palace of Westminster for pulling a knife on police. He pulled out the stiletto when he was approached by police. The individual was brought down by a Taser.
The BBC described the perpetrator as a “bearded man, wearing black trousers and a grey sweatshirt.”
Joe Murphy of the London Evening Standard provided more of a play-by-play of how the situation went down, including some background:
There were shouts of "knife knife knife" and man was brought down with a Taser
— Joe Murphy (@JoeMurphyLondon) June 16, 2017
The gates of Parliament were shut "as a precaution" and dozens of police are in the precincts.
— Joe Murphy (@JoeMurphyLondon) June 16, 2017
This incident comes two months after the murder of PC Keith Palmer in New Palace Yard.
— Joe Murphy (@JoeMurphyLondon) June 16, 2017
Our superb police have handled the situation brilliantly. A man has been detained and as far as I know nobody has been hurt.
— Joe Murphy (@JoeMurphyLondon) June 16, 2017
More from the BBC:
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.
“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”.
This attack comes on the anniversary of British MP Jo Cox, who was stabbed to death by a man with neo-Nazi links.
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