New terror arrest suggests Buckingham Palace sword attacker was not a ‘lone wolf ’

A SECOND man has been held on suspicion of terrorism offences amid fears a man seized at Buckingham Palace with a sword was not a “lone wolf ”, but part of a network.

An unnamed 30-year-old was arrested at a west London address yesterday on suspicion of being involved in “the commission, preparation or instigation of terrorism”.

He is believed to have been in recent contact with a 26-year-old man arrested outside Buckingham Palace late on Friday.

That man, from Luton, was seized after he drove at police before lunging for a 4ft sword and repeatedly shouting “Allahu Akbar”.

He was wrestled to the ground by unarmed police, who had to use CS gas to incapacitate him.

Three officers were injured during the struggle, two of them suffering minor cuts to their hands which required treatment in hospital before they were discharged. The attacker is also being held under terrorism legislation and a warrant for his further detention was granted yesterday.

Scotland Yard initially said they were not seeking anyone else in connection with the attack, but then announced they had held another suspect yesterday morning. Sources said police and counterterrorism officials had worked round the clock to see if the man had accomplices, or if anyone had known of his intentions.

Commander Dean Haydon, from the counter-terrorism branch, said a blue Toyota Prius was driven deliberately at a marked police vehicle near Buckingham Palace. The Toyota stopped in front of the police car and when officers confronted the driver, he reached into the passenger footwell for the sword.

Theresa May has praised the officers for their bravery. The Prime Minister said they “acted quickly and bravely to protect the public”.