British armed police detained a man on suspicion of having a knife near parliament on Friday, police said.
Eyewitnesses said a large number of police responded to the incident and the gates, where the Westminster Bridge attacker killed a police officer, were quickly closed.
A man wearing a grey hoodie was being detained by three officers, with four or five other armed officers patrolling the area nearby. A police van and ambulance was also stationed nearby.
Eyewitnesses said the man had been Tasered after shouts of “knife, knife, knife” but that has not yet been independently verified.
Metal barriers were quickly put in place along the front of the Houses of Parliament, blocking public access to the pavement in front of the building.
Metropolitan police said in a statement: “At 11.10am on Friday a man was detained near to the Palace of Westminster. The man – aged in his 30s – was arrested on suspicion of possession of a knife. There are no reports of any injuries.”
Guardian service