Counter-terror police question Buckingham Palace attacker

Witness describes seeing 'sword' after police swooped

Counter-terror police are questioning a man after Buckingham Palace was placed on lockdown.

A man was found with a large blade outside the Queen's official residence after police descended on The Mall in huge numbers.

Two officers were injured after tackling the 26-year-old near the palace.

The suspect was arrested at the scene on suspicion of grievous bodily harm and assault on police and has since been further arrested under the Terrorism Act.

The two policemen received minor injuries to their arms as they arrested the man, after spotting a weapon in his car.

They have since been discharged from hospital, the force said.

Witness Kiana Williamson said: "We turned up and there was one police van and one car, there was also a civilian's car that had veered towards the police car. They were trying to get the man out of the car, shouting, more police were arriving on to the scene and the man was fighting back.

"I saw one injured policeman with an injury to his arm although it didn't look severe. He was being tended to by another officer. The man had been restrained and looked almost unconscious by the side of the road.

She added: "I didn't see the car driving but the car had been left at the side of the road and an eyewitness had said that he had driven towards the police car. The whole encounter lasted around one minute."

The suspect, who stopped his car in a restricted area near a police vehicle on the Mall roundabout shortly after 8.30pm, was also taken to hospital to be treated for minor injuries.

He is now being questioned by detectives from the Metropolitan Police's Counter Terrorism Command at a police station in the capital.

Police had previously described the weapon as a knife but have now said it is a "large bladed weapon".

One woman said her partner had seen the blade and initially thought it was a sword.

The passer-by, who asked not to be named, said: "My partner saw a sword, which I didn't see, as well as a policeman with blood on him, looking like his hand or chest was injured. The police officer had it in his hand, walking away with it."

It is understood that no members of the Royal Family were in Buckingham Palace at the time.

Detective Superintendent Guy Collings paid tribute to the "quick and brave" actions of the officers.

Nicole Kyle was walking home when she saw armed police swoop on the scene and quickly put up a cordon.

The 25-year-old consultant said: "I was walking toward The Mall and St James's Park when I saw police rush down toward the palace in great numbers.

"As we got further down The Mall we saw armed police outside a police van, at which point we were able to walk closer to the palace still, where we were eventually stopped by a cordon."

Police tape closed the entrances at both Buckingham Gate and at Wellington Arch on Friday night, while Birdcage Walk and The Mall - the roads running around St James's Park - remained taped off.

Scotland Yard has appealed to anyone who saw the incident or who has video footage or pictures to contact them.

Press Association