A man has been arrested following reports of someone carrying knives outside the Houses of Parliament.
Police cars and armed officers descended on the scene in front of Carriage Gates – one of the most prominent entrances to the Palace of Westminster – following reports of a man ‘in possession of knives’ on Tuesday afternoon.
A man wearing a red hooded top could be seen handcuffed and surrounded by police, before he was bungled into a police van. One person on the scene claimed he ‘appeared to be wearing homemade armour’.
The area was cordoned off during the incident and the entrance was closed. Police said there had not been any reported injuries.
A Met spokesperson added the incident was ‘not being treated as terror related’.
A Met spokesman said: ‘Police were called at 2.01pm to reports of a man in possession of knives outside Parliament.
‘Officers attended and a 34-year-old man was arrested on suspicion of possession of an offensive weapon in a public place. He will be taken to a police station.
‘No injuries have been reported.’
They added: ‘At this early stage investigation it is not being treated as terror related.’
A UK Parliament spokesperson said: ‘We are aware of an incident outside Carriage Gates. Parliamentary Security and the Metropolitan Police are present and managing the situation.’