Knife-wielding man arrested outside Parliament as police swoop in
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A 34-year-old man has been arrested after police received reports of an individual carrying several knives outside the Houses of Parliament in Westminster.
Police vehicles were parked in front of Carriage Gates after the incident took place on Tuesday afternoon.
A man, wearing a red hooded top, was soon handcuffed as he was surrounded by police officers.
The Metropolitan Police said: “Police were called at 2.01pm on Tuesday, November 12, to reports of a man in possession of knives outside Parliament, SW1.
A UK Parliament spokesperson said that Parliamentary Security and the Met Police are "present and managing the situation"
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“Officers attended and a 34-year-old man was arrested on suspicion of possession of an offensive weapon in a public place. He will be taken to a police station."
Scotland Yard issued a further statement to confirm that no injuries have been reported.
Responding to the incident, a UK Parliament spokesman said: “We are aware of an incident outside Carriage Gates.
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"Parliamentary Security and the Metropolitan Police are present and managing the situation.”
Carriage Gates serves as the main entrance into the Houses of Parliament for MPs, peers, as well as their parliamentary staffers.
Security surrounding the parliamentary estate has dramatically increased since the Westminster terrorist attack in 2017 when a policeman - PC Keith Palmer - was murdered.
Data from the Institute for Government shows an increase in incidents which affect MPs between 2017 and 2018, rising from 151 reported crimes to 342 the following year.
Carriage Gates serves as the main entrance into the Houses of Parliament for MPs, peers, as well as their parliamentary staffers
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On March 22, 2017, the terror attack - which lasted 82 seconds - began at 2.40pm when Khalid Masood drove across Westminster Bridge, accelerating and mounting the pavement to hit pedestrians.
Police reported that he was driving up to 76mph and, subsequently, crashed into railings near Parliament.
Masood, who was armed with a knife, got out of the vehicle and was soon confronted by police officers - including an unarmed PC Palmer, who was fatally stabbed.
In an annual report, the House of Commons has said that "the threat to MPs has increased and remains substantial".
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