Man arrested outside Buckingham Palace on suspicion of having Taser

A man has been arrested outside Buckingham Palace on suspicion of possessing a firearm.

The 38-year-old was arrested on suspicion of having a Taser, and was taken into custody at a police station in central London.

The man was queuing at the visitor entrance to the palace and the incident is said not to be terrorism-related, the force said.

Thousands of members of the public visit the palace during its summer opening, which is due to end on 30 September. The Queen was not in residence and remains at her Balmoral estate in Scotland where she has spent the summer.

In a statement, the Metropolitan police said: “Police were called at 12.47hrs on Sunday 23 September to a report of a man detained by security staff at the visitor entrance to Buckingham Palace.

“Officers attended and at 13:00hrs a 38-year-old man was arrested on suspicion of possessing a firearm, namely a Taser. He remains in custody at a central London police station at this stage.”

A Buckingham Palace spokesperson said: “We do not comment on security matters.”