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Whitehall 'terror attack': Man carrying 'bag of knives' pinned to ground and arrested in Westminster

Armed police talk to a man with a bandaged hand at the scene after a person was arrested following an incident in Whitehall in London (PA)
Armed police talk to a man with a bandaged hand at the scene after a person was arrested following an incident in Whitehall in London (PA)

Police have arrested a man armed with several knives in Whitehall on suspicion of planning a terror attack.

The suspect was carrying a rucksack containing at least three knives when he was detained “following a stop and search as part of an ongoing operation”, according to Scotland Yard.

The man was pinned to the ground by armed police and arrested in Whitehall, close to Parliament Square and just yards from the site of the Westminster terror attack five weeks ago in which five people were killed.

Police confirmed there had been no reported injuries and the Prime Minister has been informed and is monitoring the situation.

Forensics experts and police stand with a man where the knives were found (PA)
Forensics experts and police stand with a man where the knives were found (PA)
A man is led away from the scene in Whitehall (PA)
A man is led away from the scene in Whitehall (PA)

Metropolitan Police said that the man was arrested on suspicion of commission, preparation or instigation of acts of terrorism.

They said in a statement: “A man has been arrested in Whitehall this afternoon, at approximately 14:22, following a stop and search as part of an ongoing operation.

“The man was arrested in Parliament Street, junction with Parliament Square, by armed officers from the Met’s Specialist Firearms Command.

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“The man, aged in his late twenties, was arrested on suspicion of possession of an offensive weapon and on suspicion of the commission, preparation and instigation of acts of terrorism.Knives have been recovered from him.

“He is being detained under the Terrorism Act and is in custody in a south London police station.

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

Police appear to have made the arrest close to the junction of Parliament Street and Westminster Bridge Road.

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

Recruiters Harry Peasnell, 27, and Andy Burnage, 22, were leaving the adjacent building which houses various Government offices after a meeting with officials when they were told over the tannoy the usual entrance on to Whitehall was closed.

Mr Peasnell, who says he regularly has meetings in Westminster, said police were “quick on the scene” and that he was not worried like he was during the terror attack in the area just weeks ago.

Knives can be seen on the ground where the man was arrested (Twitter/Rachel Bingham)
Knives can be seen on the ground where the man was arrested (Twitter/Rachel Bingham)
Forensics teams pick up the knives that were allegedly found with on the suspect (PA)
Forensics teams pick up the knives that were allegedly found with on the suspect (PA)

He added: “Last time all the buildings were on lockdown and no one was allowed to leave.”

A handful of armed and unarmed officers were at the scene which is yards from where Khalid Masood launched a terror attack in March which 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.

Top pic: Guido Fawkes