Whitehall sealed off by Met Police after man carrying bag of knives arrested near Parliament

Armed police cordoned off Whitehall after a man carrying a bag of knives was arrested near Parliament.

The 27-year-old man is being held on suspicion of possessing an offensive weapon and planning acts of terrorism, Scotland Yard said.

Pictures from the scene showed a man pinned to the ground close to the Foreign Office and the entrance to Downing Street.

Three knives were also pictured close to a rucksack.

Scotland Yard said there had been no reported injuries.

An officer in forensic overalls could be seen taking photographs of the knives.

The suspect was detained at the scene for several minutes within view of journalists and passers by before he was eventually taken away by police.

A police spokesperson said "knives have been recovered" from the man, who was arrested "following a stop and search as part of an ongoing operation".

Detectives from the Counter Terrorism Command are continuing their investigation, and as a result of this arrest there is no immediate known threat.

Mayor of London Sadiq Khan thanked the officers involved and said he had been briefed by the Met Commissioner.

The scene is yards from where Khalid Masood launched a terror attack in that killed five people, including PC Keith Palmer.

The officer was stabbed to death as he carried out his duties on the cobbled forecourt of the Palace of Westminster.