Man throws shotgun shells and suspicious bag onto Buckingham Palace grounds: police
Posted May 2, 2023 3:24 pm.
Last Updated May 2, 2023 5:44 pm.
Officers in London arrested a man after he approached the gates of Buckingham Palace and “threw a number of items” onto the grounds.
They say the arrest was made at around 7 p.m. GMT on Tuesday for “suspicion of possession of an offensive weapon.”
Police say the items have been taken for “specialist examination.”
Meanwhile, cordons are in place after a “suspicious bag” was found.
Metro police say specialists attended and set off a controlled explosion as a precaution. It’s unclear what was in the bag.
“Officers worked immediately to detain the man, and he has been taken into police custody,” said chief superintendent Joseph McDonald.
“There have been no reports of any shots fired or any injuries to officers or members of the public.”
He says officers remain at the scene, and further inquiries are ongoing.
King Charles III and Camilla, the queen consort, were not at Buckingham Palace at the time of the arrest.
The incident occurred just days before Charles’ coronation ceremony, which is scheduled to occur at nearby Westminster Abbey on Saturday.
Read More: Crowds begin to gather in London ahead of the coronation of King Charles
Buckingham Palace has seen lots of activity as tourists and international media started arriving for the coronation, which is the first to happen in the country since Queen Elizabeth II was crowned in 1953.
Dozens of foreign royals, dignitaries and heads of state are expected to travel to the U.K. to attend the event, set to be a huge policing operation.
