Armed police arrest man at Houses of Parliament

https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2018/dec/11/man-arrested-incident-near-houses-parliament

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A man has been arrested by armed police near an entrance to the Houses of Parliament.

The incident, during which officers used a stun gun, is not believed to be terrorism related. The man was held by parliamentary and diplomatic protection officers.

About a dozen officers surrounded the suspect as he was held against a fence inside the Carriage Gates on Tuesday.

Security in the area has been heightened since it was the scene of a terrorist atrocity in March 2017 when Khalid Masood murdered the unarmed police officer Keith Palmer.

At the time there was shock at the lack of an armed presence near the gate, and the chief coroner, Mark Lucraft QC, found that shortcomings in security meant marksmen did not know where they were supposed to patrol.

Since the attack, security has been strengthened, with a permanent armed presence at the entrance.

The man was taken away in a police car shortly after 12.15pm.

A Metropolitan police spokesman said: “A man was detained and arrested by Carriage Gates, inside the Palace of Westminster, on suspicion of trespassing at a protected site, at around 11.55am on Tuesday December 11. A Taser was deployed. Inquiries into the circumstances continue.”

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