LONDON POLICE HAVE arrested a man for possession of knives and on suspicion of terrorism offences near Britain’s Houses of Parliament.
The Metropolitan Police said no one was injured in the incident, which brought armed police flooding into the area around Parliament.
Witnesses reported seeing armed police blocking off Whitehall, a street lined with government buildings, and a man on the ground.
A photo showed a forensic officer looking at a black bag and what appeared to be two knives on the ground.
In a statement, Met police said the man was arrested at 2.22pm following a stop and search as part of an ongoing operation.
The 27-year-old man was arrested on suspicion of possession of an offensive weapon and on suspicion of the commission, preparation and instigation of acts of terrorism.
Police said that knives were recovered from him.
The man is being detained under the UK Terrorism Act and is in custody in a south London police station.
Police said that detectives from the Counter Terrorism Command are continuing their investigation. They said that as a result of this arrest there is no immediate known threat.
Security has been increased around Parliament after an attacker drove an SUV into pedestrians on nearby Westminster Bridge on 22 March before stabbing a police officer to death inside the gates of Parliament.
The attacker, Khalid Masood, was shot dead by police.
Today is Parliament’s last sitting day before Britain’s 8 June election.
With reporting from Cormac Fitzgerald
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