Suspect Tasered as he rushes at armed police at Commons
ARMED police yesterday Tasered a man who rushed at officers standing just yards from the spot where Westminster terrorist Khalid Masood murdered PC Keith Palmer.
The man, who has yet to be identified, was bundled on to the cobbles of New Palace Yard and restrained.
He ran in through Parliament’s gates as a taxi drove out and made it a few feet before being stopped.
As he was put in a police van the man shouted “We’re coming for you politicians” before being driven away.
The incident, despite not being treated as terror-related, has raised more questions about security around Parliament.
Last night Scotland Yard said the man had been arrested on suspicion of trespass and “will have a mental health assessment”.
Afterwards Labour MP Luke Pollard tweeted: “A timely reminder of the dedication and professionalism of the police who keep our democracy safe. Thank you.”
Later a Met spokesman said: “At around 11.55am, a man tried to gain entry to the grounds of the Palace of Westminster via Carriage Gates.
“He did not comply with officers’ requests to stop. A Taser was deployed. The man was subsequently arrested on suspicion of trespassing at a protected site, and taken to a police station where he remains.”
One unnamed witness claimed: “I heard police shouting. At first I thought they were just shouting at tourists to stay back.
Screams
“But there was a guy stood just inside the gates with his arms out being approached by lots of police and wasn’t responding to the screams.
“I heard a crack and saw the Taser wires. He went down and very quickly they were all on him.”
Pictures from the scene show the man – wearing a black cap, green jacket and jeans – pinned to the ground with three officers around him.
One of the policemen was aiming a gun at his head, another had used the Taser and a third held a baton.
Another eyewitness said: “Police handcuffed him and got him to his feet, then unzipped his jacket to see if he had anything hidden on him.
“Two armed police cars and armed police came out of the grounds and told us to get back. They then set up cordons around the entrance.”
PC Palmer, 48, was guarding the Carriage Gates of New Palace Yard in March 2017 when he was fatally stabbed moments after Masood, 52, mowed down pedestrians on Westminster Bridge, killing four people.
The married father of one had only joined the Met’s Parliamentary and Diplomatic Protection Group in April 2016.
An coroner’s inquest in October highlighted “shortcomings” in how armed officers were managed by their superiors and ruled that PC Palmer’s death might have been prevented had armed police been closer.
Islamic State-inspired Masood was shot dead moments later by armed security staff.
In a final text message he claimed he was waging jihad in revenge for Western military action in Muslim countries in the Middle East.