Armed police have arrested a man carrying knives near British Prime Minister Theresa May’s office in London on suspicion of preparing an act of terrorism.
Counter-terrorism officers detained the 27-year-old man on Parliament Street, a short distance from parliament building and Ms May’s Downing Street office.
A security source said counter-terrorism officers and the domestic intelligence agency M15 knew the London man before his arrest.
No one was injured during the arrest, and May was not present at Downing Street at the time due to campaigns in northern England.
“I am aware that an individual has been arrested in Whitehall today and that that individual has been arrested on the basis of a terrorism charge,” Ms May told Sky News.
“Obviously I can’t say much about it because it is an ongoing police investigation but I think it shows that our police and our intelligence and security services are on the alert as they always are looking to keep us safe and secure.”
Two hours following the arrest, police reopened streets in the Westminster district, indicating they believed there was no further public risk.
Police said the suspect was being questioned at a south London Police Station.
Man arrested near UK Parliament in London on suspicion of planning a terror attack was carrying knives, police say https://t.co/VKWxNurSjS pic.twitter.com/llgDudVLDQ
— CNN International (@cnni) April 27, 2017
The knife incident has come just a month after a British-born convert to Islam ploughed a car into pedestrians at the nearby Westminster Bridge, killing four people, and stabbing a police officer to death in the grounds of parliament.
The attack prompted police to review security around parliament and has led to a greater police presence in the area.
