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

Streaker climbs statue in central London and poses for 3 hours

Braving a temperature of 6 degrees Celsius, the man climbed the statue of Prince George in Whitehall, London, took off his clothes and proceeded to pose naked, waving at onlookers.

The incident, which happened at midday, brought London's traffic to a standstill for around three hours, as police feared the man might pose a security risk.Described as an inconspicuous man in his thirties or forties, he clambered up the bronze statue of Prince George, the Victorian-era commander-in-chief of the British Army, which is outside Whitehall, and houses the UK government and Ministry of Defence.

Striking various provocative poses, he even climbed on top of the feathered bicorne worn by the general, and attracted crowds of onlookers, taking photos with their mobile phones.

The incident attracted a response team of four police cars, two fire trucks, and four mounted policemen, who blocked off the area within 100 meters of the statue. This forced government employees to enter their buildings through alternative routes.

Eventually, after three hours, professional negotiators managed to urge the man to climb down. He was then detained under the Mental Health Act.

More images of the streaker can be viewed on RT.  Watch video of the incident at: http://www.digitaljournal.com/article/337569#ixzz2D8DAaXV8

Braving a temperature of 6 degrees Celsius, the man climbed the statue of Prince George in Whitehall, London, took off his clothes and proceeded to pose naked, waving at onlookers.

The incident, which happened at midday, brought London's traffic to a standstill for around three hours, as police feared the man might pose a security risk. Described as an inconspicuous man in his thirties or forties, he clambered up the bronze statue of Prince George, the Victorian-era commander-in-chief of the British Army, which is outside Whitehall, and houses the UK government and Ministry of Defence. Striking various provocative poses, he even climbed on top of the feathered bicorne worn by the general, and attracted crowds of onlookers, taking photos with their mobile phones. The incident attracted a response team of four police cars, two fire trucks, and four mounted policemen, who blocked off the area within 100 meters of the statue. This forced government employees to enter their buildings through alternative routes. Eventually, after three hours, professional negotiators managed to urge the man to climb down. He was then detained under the Mental Health Act. More images of the streaker can be viewed on RT.

Read more: http://www.digitaljournal.com/article/337569#ixzz2D8D7rm1J