Second man arrested over sword attack on officers outside palace
A SECOND man has been arrested on suspicion of terrorism offences after three police officers were injured in an alleged terrorist incident outside Buckingham Palace.
The 30-year-old from west London was held yesterday on suspicion of being involved in the commission, preparation or instigation of terrorism, the Metropolitan Police said.
The arrest was carried out by officers from the Met’s Counter Terrorism Command who are investigating the terrorist incident in Constitution Hill which resulted in three officers suffering minor injuries on Friday night.
Officers have also been granted a warrant for the further detention of a 26-year-old man who was arrested at the scene.
The man who was arrested yesterday is being held in custody and an address in west London is being searched.
Shortly after 8.30pm on Friday a suspect drove a car at police outside Buckingham Palace and then reached for a 4ft sword, police said.
The three officers were injured after they tackled a man who drove a blue Toyota Prius at a marked police vehicle on Friday night. Commander Dean Haydon, of the Metropolitan Police counter-terrorism branch, said: “Uniformed officers then confronted the driver of the vehicle and during that confrontation the driver reached for a four-foot sword that was in the passenger footwell. CS gas was used as part of the arrest and during the struggle the individual repeatedly shouted the words Allahu Akbar.”
Police have been given permission to hold the 26-year-old man, from the Luton area, until September 1.
He was arrested on suspicion of grievous bodily harm and assault on police and was later further arrested under the Terrorism Act 2000.
It is understood that no members of the Royal Family were in Buckingham Palace when the attack happened. It took place in a restricted area in Constitution Hill, near the palace.
The officers were unarmed police constables from Westminster borough.
Two of the officers were taken by ambulance to hospital with minor cuts. The third officer did not need hospital treatment.