(Reuters) - A man who assaulted police officers with a four-foot sword outside Queen Elizabeth’s Buckingham Palace residence shouting “Allahu Akbar” (God is greatest) was being questioned by counter-terrorism police on Saturday.

A police officer patrols within the grounds of Buckingham Palace in London, Britain August 26, 2017. REUTERS/Paul Hackett

Two unarmed officers suffered slight cuts as they detained the man, who drove at a police van on Friday evening, then took the sword from the front passenger foot-well of his car, London’s Metropolitan Police said.

It was too early to say what the man was planning to do, said Commander Dean Haydon, the head of the Met’s Counter Terrorism Command.

“We believe the man was acting alone and we are not looking for other suspects at this stage,” he said. “It is only right that we investigate this as a terrorist incident at this time.”

Europe has been on high alert following a string of militant attacks, including four this year in Britain which killed 36 people. The country’s threat level remains at severe, meaning an attack is highly likely.

No members of the royal family were present in the palace, which is a magnet for tourists in Britain’s capital in the peak August holiday weekend.

“I want to thank the officers who acted quickly and bravely to protect the public last night demonstrating the dedication and professionalism of our police,” Prime Minister Theresa May said in a message on Twitter.

SUSPECT FROM LUTON

The suspect was initially arrested on suspicion of grievous bodily harm and assault on police. He was then further arrested under Britain’s Terrorism Act.

Police said they were investigating a 26-year-old man from the Luton area, an ethnically diverse town 35 miles (55 km) north of London where police have carried out investigations linked to other militant attacks, including one earlier this year on London’s Westminster Bridge.

“My partner saw a sword (...) 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,” said an unnamed witness quoted by The Times newspaper, who said tourists were running away from the scene.

“Something happened before, which is why the people ran away. I’m not sure what this was. But people were already scared and I saw the policeman pull the man from the car” the witness said.

The suspect was treated at a London hospital for minor injuries, and there were no other reported injuries.

“This is a timely reminder that the threat from terrorism in the UK remains severe,” Haydon added. “The police, together with the security services, are doing everything we can to protect the public and we already have an enhanced policing plan over the Bank Holiday weekend to keep the public safe.”</s>A man has been arrested on suspicion of causing grievous bodily harm and assault on police after allegedly attacking two officers outside Buckingham Palace.

Reports emerging from the scene in central London say that the man had been carrying a sword before his arrest.

London's Metropolitan Police (MET) released a statement saying that two officers were injured when restraining the suspect.

The statement said: "The man [no further details] was stopped this evening, Friday (25 August) at approximately 20:35 hours by officers at the Mall outside Buckingham Palace in possession of knife.

"During the course of detaining him, two male police officers suffered minor injuries to their arm."

The force added that no other persons were injured at the scene and enquiries are ongoing.

Eye witnesses said that the man had been carrying a machete before he was overpowered by police.

Pictures circulating on social media show the area around the palace on lockdown with a cordon and a heavy police presence remaining whilst the investigation continues.

Witness Amir Jan Malik wrote on Twitter: "Being directed away from Buckingham Palace now as Police corden [sic] it off. No entry allowed in towards palace."

He added: "Stuck outside Buckingham palace with many armed police officers. Heavy rifles on display traffic at a halt."

It was reported that the Queen was not in residence when the attack outside the palace happened, as she was in Balmoral Castle, her holiday home in Scotland.

The London Ambulance Service were called and treated the injured officers who have not been taken to hospital, the Met said.

So far there is no indication that the arrest was terror related.

The London attack happened just hours after a man was fatally shot in Brussels after attacking two soldiers with a machete, it was reported.

The incident happened on Boulevard Emile Jacqmain, with the main suspect being a Somali man, according to State broadcaster RTBF.</s>A man has been detained after he allegedly attacked police with a knife outside Buckingham Palace.

Two police officers suffered minor injuries to their arms as they arrested the armed man.

Armed police officers have cordoned off a large area around the Queen's residence in central London, with witnesses saying the area was in "lockdown".

A witness claimed on Twitter that the attacker was armed with a sword. Other witnesses said it may have been a machete.

The incident occurred while the Queen was at Balmoral Castle, her holiday home in Scotland.

A Met Police spokesman said: "A man has been arrested on suspicion of grievous bodily harm and assault on police.

"The man was stopped this evening at approximately 8.35pm by officers at the Mall outside Buckingham Palace in possession of knife.

"During the course of detaining him, two male police officers suffered minor injuries to their arm.

"The London Ambulance Service were called and they were treated at the scene. They have not been taken to hospital.

"No others persons have been reported injured.

"Officers remain on scene and enquiries are ongoing."

There was a heavy police presence around Buckingham Palace, one of the UK's most popular tourist attractions, in the aftermath.

Witness Amir Jan Malik wrote on Twitter: "Being directed away from Buckingham Palace now as Police corden [sic] it off. No entry allowed in towards palace."

He added: "Stuck outside Buckingham palace with many armed police officers. Heavy rifles on display traffic at a halt."

Another witness, Leonardi Paoli, wrote: "Buckingham palace in lockdown. Man with a sword attacker an officer."

He said he overheard police discussing a "sword attack" following the incident.

There was no indication the attack was terror related.

It occurred just hours after a man was shot in Brussels after attacking two soldiers with a knife.

The man was critically wounded and rushed to hospital, while the soldiers were lightly wounded.</s>A man has been arrested after he attacked police officers outside Buckingham Palace in London on Saturday.

The man was believed to have a sword and two officers were injured when restraining the suspect.

Queen Elizabeth II was not in residence at her palace when the incident took place.

“Officers are on scene at the Mall outside Buckingham Palace. A man has been arrested on suspicion of GBH (grievous bodily harm) and assault on police,” the Metropolitan Police said in on Twitter.

Pictures on social media show police cars and a police cordon surrounding the area.</s>A man has been arrested after attacking police outside Buckingham Palace.

There were reports the man had a sword. Two officers were injured when restraining the suspect.

There was a heavy police presence outside the palace on Friday evening. The Queen was not in residence when the attack outside the palace happened.</s>LONDON, U.K. - Two officers were injured while detaining a man with a knife at the Mall outside Buckingham Palace late Friday night, the Metropolitan Police said.

The two officers suffered injuries to their arms, Met police said. They did not go to the hospital.

The man has been arrested for suspicion of "grievous bodily harm" and assault on police, Met police said.

Buckingham Palace is the home of Queen Elizabeth II. The queen and her husband, Prince Philip, are currently at their estate in Balmoral in Scotland, and no members of the royal family were in residence, Buckingham Palace said.</s>A man has been arrested after attacking police outside Buckingham Palace, the London residence of the British Queen.

There were unconfirmed reports the man had a sword. Two officers were injured when restraining the suspect.

Police said the man was stopped outside the Royal grounds in possession of a knife at around 8.35pm. The man was arrested at the top of the Mall, close to the palace gates.

The Queen was not at her London residence at the time of the attack; she is currently holidaying with other members of the British Royal family.

The man has been arrested on suspicion of causing grievous bodily harm and attacking police, British authorities said.

There was a heavy police presence outside the palace on Friday evening. The Queen was not in residence when the attack outside the palace happened.

A statement by the London Metropolitan Police on Twitter said: "Two police officers suffered minor injuries during the course of detaining the man".

The attack, the motivations of which are not know, comes only about an hour after another knife attack in a European capital, Belgium, where a man attacked two soldiers with a knife.

"During the course of detaining him, two male police officers suffered minor injuries to their arm," a Metropolitan police statement said.

"The London Ambulance Service were called and they were treated at the scene. They have not been taken to hospital.

"No others persons have been reported injured. Officers remain on scene and enquiries are ongoing."

The police response to the incident was rapid, and the area was soon secured by dozens of officers and police vehicles.

"Stuck outside Buckingham palace with many armed police officers. Heavy rifles on display traffic at a halt," said Amir Jan Malik.</s>Man with knife assaults two police officers outside Buckingham Palace

A police officer stands at a cordon after police arrested a man carrying a knife outside Buckingham Palace in London, August 25, 2017. — Reuters picLONDON, Aug 26 – A man with a “large knife” who assaulted two police officers outside Buckingham Palace last night has been arrested, British police said.

The officers suffered minor injuries and were taken to a hospital for treatment. The man, who is in his mid-twenties according to the police, was arrested on suspicion of grievous bodily harm and assault on police near Queen Elizabeth’s London residence.

No members of the royal family were present in the palace at the time. A Metropolitan Police spokeswoman said she was unable to comment at this stage on the motivation for the incident.

Britain has been hit this year by four militant attacks in which 36 people were killed, and the country’s threat level is at severe, meaning an attack is highly likely.

A Reuters witness near the scene said police had cordoned off a large area for security, including The Mall, a wide avenue leading up to the palace. Footage on Sky News showed emergency vehicles lining the street outside the palace.

“The man was stopped this evening, Friday 25 August at approximately 20:35 hours (1935 GMT) by officers at the Mall outside Buckingham Palace in possession of (a) knife,” the police said in a statement.

“During the course of detaining him, two male police officers suffered minor injuries to their arm.”

The suspect was taken to a London hospital for treatment of minor injuries, the police statement added. There were no other reported injuries.

The police said the suspect will be questioned by detectives and that it is too early to speculate further. — Reuters</s>LONDON: A man was arrested on Friday (Aug 25) after attacking police with a knife outside Queen Elizabeth II's Buckingham Palace residence in London, police said.

"The man was stopped ... at approximately 20:35 hours (1935 GMT) by officers outside Buckingham Palace in possession of knife," said London police statement.

Two male police officers suffered minor injuries to their arm and the man was arrested on suspicion of grievous bodily harm and assault.

The officers were treated at the scene and did not require hospital treatment, according to police, who said it was too early to say whether the attack was terrorism.

However, social media users reported that the attacker was armed with a sword, and posted videos of a fleet of police cars and ambulances outside the world-famous palace, with the surrounding roads sealed off.

Twitter user Amir Jan Malik wrote: "Stuck outside Buckingham palace with many armed police officers. Heavy rifles on display traffic at a halt."

Eyewitness Kiana Williamson told the Press Association that "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," she said. "The man had been restrained and looked almost unconscious by the side of the road.

"I didn't see the car driving but the car had been left at the side of the road and an eye witness had said that he had driven towards the police car," she added.

The incident occurred just two hours after a knifeman attacked two soldiers in Brussels in what authorities are treating as a terrorist attack.

The Queen is at her Balmoral residence in Scotland, although the palace said it would not comment on security issues.</s>A man armed with a knife has been arrested outside London’s Buckingham Palace Friday evening, and two police officers were injured while arresting him, police said.

The Metropolitan Police force says two officers suffered minor injuries while detaining the suspect, who is being held on suspicion of grievous bodily harm and assaulting police.

Police said the officers did not require hospital treatment. No other injuries were reported.

A large number of police vehicles could be seen in the Mall, the wide road outside the palace.

Buckingham Palace is the London home of Queen Elizabeth II and one of London’s main tourist attractions.
Two British police officers were assaulted with a sword while trying to arrest a man outside Buckingham Palace.