Yahoo News Parliament 'weak spot': Intruder walked through Carriage Gates last year without being stopped
Parliament’s “weak spot” exploited by a terror attacker this week was breached last year by an intruder who walked straight past guards, it can be revealed.
Officers at the Carriage Gates entrance were fooled by a fake identification which allowed the 29-year-old to enter despite not being security cleared.
The intruder was able to wander the parliamentary estate for half a day before being caught in a major breach of security.
Parliamentary officials were so alarmed by the “bad mistake” that they ordered a tightening of security to ensure it “never happened” again.
The blunder is one of four previous security incidents at the entrance in the last decade, with others including attempts by people to run or drive past guards.
It raises serious questions about the spot on Parliament’s perimeter than an attacker exploited this week before being shot dead.
With Parliament’s security under intense scrutiny this weekend, The Sunday Telegraph can also reveal:
A heavily armoured police van is to be permanently stationed by the House of Commons to tackle future terror attacks
Parliamentary officials will this week discuss whether guards at Carriage Gates should carry guns after an unarmed officer was killed
Sadiq Khan, the London Mayor, wants Parliament Square to be part-pedestrianised to better protest MPs and peers
More armed policemen could be deployed in Parliament on Sundays amid concerns over the lower level of security on the weekend
Wednesday’s terror attack saw Adrian Ajao rush into the parliamentary estate by an entrance called Carriage Gates after abandoning his car.
Mr Ajao stabbed an unarmed officer to death and was able to get 20 yards into the estate before being shot.
Footage later emerged showing that the gates were left open and unguarded for around a minute as officers attended their injured colleague.
During that time a courier was able to enter without being checked at roughly the same time Theresa May was being hurried into a car just meters away.
This newspaper has uncovered a series of previous incidents at the entrance - which is often opened to let in ministerial cars for votes and debates - in recent years.
The most serious incident occurred in February when an intruder was able to wander into the estate on a Sunday by flashing a fake parliamentary pass.
He spent the next 12 hours on the estate and eventually broke into Moncrieff’s bar, only to be discovered the next morning drunk.
A Parliament security source said: “It was a Sunday. The guy walked up, produced an ID and basically walked in. Because it was a Sunday everything was closed down.
“After that, security was tightened up in fairness. It was made sure that all identification was checked.
“Unfortunately it was a bad mistake to make. That was purely down to human error. It should have never happened.”
At least three other security incidents have occurred at Carriage Gates in the last decade.
In 2013, a woman attempted to drive through the gates in a red Volkswagen demanding to see an MP and had to be wrestled out the car.
Two incidents occurred in 2007. The first saw a man attempt to run past security guards before being brought down, the second saw a white van smash into the gates.
Approached about the incidents, a Parliamentary spokesman declined to discuss the details and said: “Security of Members, staff and the visiting public is our highest priority. For Parliament to fulfil its democratic function, it is crucial that it remains open and accessible to the public.
“While we cannot comment on the specifics of our security, we work closely with the police, security services and others to ensure that our security measures are effective and meet whatever level of security risk Parliament faces. These measures are always, and will continue to be, under constant review.
Former Metropolitan Police commissioner Lord Blair and ex-House of Commons deputy speaker Nigel Evans both said on Saturday that security will now have to be stepped up.
Lord Blair told BBC Radio 4's Today programme: "I am absolutely certain that there will be a review now of the outer soft ring that those of us who work at the Palace of Westminster are very used to.
"Always behind it is the inner core of armed officers, but PC Keith Palmer has paid with his life for that soft outer rim and I think that his family at least, and everybody else, needs the reassurance that will be reviewed."
Mr Evans said the attack was "one of those things that by experience you learn [from]", adding that he had “no doubts whatsoever that there will be enhanced features of security”.
Mr Khan, the London Mayor, has told this newspaper that he wants to part-pedestrianise Parliament Square in the wake of the attacks.
There are concerns that terrorists could drive a bomb up to the entrance of Parliament under the current arrangement.
It is understood that talks have already taken place with Westminster Council and that plans drawn up by Ken Livingstone, the former Labour London mayor, will be one inspiration.
The Mayor of London, Sadiq Khan, said: “Parliament Square is one of our capital’s treasures and it’s only right that we consider making it more accessible and appealing to Londoners and visitors alike. We’ve seen the positive impact that part-pedestrianisation has had on Trafalgar Square, and I have long spoken about my wish to see something similar at Parliament Square.
“I am committed to ensuring we work closely with Westminster City Council and the Parliamentary authorities to design and install a scheme which provides the best safety and security that can possibly be achieved for the Palace of Westminster as well as for visitors, Londoners and tourists. Plans are already in development for part-pedestrianisation and we will of course take into account any new security advice that may be given.”
