Second London terror attack averted close to Houses of Parliament

As part of an ongoing stop and search operation, London Metropolitan Police arrested a suspected terrorist armed with a backpack of knives.

Since the London terror attack of March 22, London Metropolitan Police have been running an ongoing stop and search operation. It has ended up averting yet another terror attack on Thursday, April 27, after police arrested a potential terrorist carrying knives.

Potential terrorist carrying backpack of knives detained

According to London Metropolitan Police, one suspect has been detained in Whitehall, close to the Houses of Parliament where the previous terror attack occurred. He was said to be carrying a backpack of knives in an area that is also close to the official residence of the British Prime Minister Theresa May. The International Business Times reports that a spokesperson for May had said she was not at 10 Downing Street at the time of the arrest. Photos taken at the scene captured images of police surrounding the man. Traffic was closed on the roads around Whitehall and Parliament Street due to the incident.

Perpetrator of attempted terror attack in #London today. pic.twitter.com/D8t24hNufe

— Kyle Orton (@KyleWOrton) April 27, 2017

Incident occurred in the same area as the recent London terror attack

In the previous London terror attack on March 22, Khalid Masood was shot and killed by police marksmen after he killed five people, including a police officer, while driving his car through a crowd of pedestrians on Westminster Bridge. Masood then crashed the vehicle outside the Parliament buildings and stabbed PC Keith Palmer, who was on duty as a guard.

Man arrested near UK Parliament in London on suspicion of planning a terror attack was carrying knives, police say https://t.co/1HI4P6etrh pic.twitter.com/JsLHLYCosg

— CNN (@CNN) April 27, 2017

ABC News reports that police said in a statement that armed officers had arrested a 27-year-old man in Parliament Street on the corner of Parliament Square. Officers from the Metropolitan Police Specialist Firearms Command detained the man on suspicion of the possession of an offensive weapon, as well as suspicion of preparation, instigation and commission of acts of terrorism. Various knives were recovered from the suspect, contained in his backpack. No injuries were reported in the incident.

No immediate indications of further terrorist threat

Police continued by stating that the man is being detained under the Terrorism Act and is currently in their custody at a south London police station. In the meantime officers from the Counter Terrorism Command are reportedly continuing investigations, but after the arrest, police do not believe there is an immediate threat.

Sadiq Khan, London’s Mayor, thanked the Metropolitan Police officers for dealing so swiftly and professionally with the terror-related incident in Whitehall, saying he has been fully briefed by the Metropolitan Commissioner on the arrest.

Sources: ABC News and IBTimes