Palace attack suspect quizzed
A terror suspect was being questioned by police last night after allegedly shouting “Allahu Akbar” while attacking officers at Buckingham Palace.
The 26-year- old man is accused of deliberately driving a blue Toyota Prius at the van the officers were sitting in, before jumping out and reaching for a fourfoot sword in the footwell.
But the trio of unarmed police were said to have wrestled him to the ground and disarmed him with CS spray.
Comma nder De a n Haydon, head of the Metropol itan Pol ice’s counter-terrorism unit, paid tribute to the officers.
He said: “Their vigilance, courage and the swiftness of their response demonstrates how our officers are protecting the public at this time.”
Searches were yesterday carried out in Luton, where the man, who was believed to have acted alone, lives.
The a r e a a r ou nd Buckingham Palace was put into lockdown as the suspect was held after being stopped at 8.35pm on Friday.
He was taken to hospital under guard and then to a London police station.
Two of the officers were yesterday discharged from hospital after suf fering minor injuries to their hands and arms. The third officer was uninjured.
The incident came an hour after a man with a machete was shot dead in Brussels after attacking soldiers whi le shouting “Allahu Akbar” – God is great in Arabic.