Controlled explosion takes place outside Buckingham Palace after man detained by police
02.05.2023 - 20:25
/ manchestereveningnews.co.uk
A controlled explosion has taken place outside Buckingham Palace this evening after a man was detained by police.
In a statement released by the Metropolitan Police, the force said they had arrested a man after he threw a number of items, suspected to be shotgun cartridges, into the palace grounds.
He was also said to be in possession of a suspicious bag. A controlled explosion took place outside the palace following the incident this evening, police added.
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Neither the King nor the Queen Consort were at Buckingham Palace at the time of the arrest. Buckingham Palace declined to comment and said the incident was a matter for the Metropolitan Police.
The terrifying incident unfolded at around 7pm this evening (7 May), after the man was seen to approach the gates of the palace.
It comes as huge crowds have began flocking to the capital ahead of King Charles III Coronation, which is set to take place at Westminster Abbey on Saturday (6 May).
A man has been arrested on suspicion of possession of an offensive weapon and has been taken to custody, the Met Police said.
A cordon has been put in place and a "suspicious bag" which the man was found to be in possession of, is being assessed by specialist teams at the scene.
No further details have been released about the incident at this stage. There is currently a massive police presence outside the grounds.
In a statement the Metropolitan Police said: "Officers quickly detained a man at around 19.00hrs on Tuesday, 2 May after he approached the gates of Buckingham Palace SW1 and threw a number of items - suspected to be shotgun cartridges - into the palace grounds.
"These have been recovered and will be