A man has been arrested on suspicion of possessing an offensive weapon after being stopped by armed police outside Buckingham Palace. The incident occurred on 2 May, just days before the coronation of Charles III, formerly known as Prince Charles. The man was stopped for “stop and search by our armed colleagues” near the palace, according to Sgt Simon Ching of the London Met Police. He added that the incident “is not currently being treated as terrorist-related, but the investigation continues”.
The man was detained after throwing “suspected shotgun cartridges” into the grounds of Buckingham Palace. The area was cordoned off and a controlled explosion was carried out on a bag found with the suspect, which was non-hazardous. The cartridges found will be forensically analysed. The man is yet to be named and his motive remains unknown.
The incident has caused concern for the safety of attendees at the coronation, including around 100 heads of state, as well as for the public who will gather to watch the event. More than 2,200 are expected to attend Charles III’s coronation, which is scheduled to take place on 4 December. The palace has declined to comment, referring to the incident as a police matter.
There have been several incidents in recent months at Buckingham Palace, including reports of suspicious packages and attempts to break in. However, the police stress that the incident on 2 May is not terror-related. Charles III’s coronation is set to be a huge policing operation, costing more than £100m.
The coronation ceremony is scheduled to take place at Westminster Abbey, and will be a military procession featuring thousands of ceremonial troops. With the threat of terrorism remaining high, security measures have been ramped up across the entire city in recent months.
The incident at Buckingham Palace is a reminder of the importance of security at high-profile events such as royal ceremonies. It is hoped that the police will be able to determine the motive of the man arrested, and that steps will be taken to ensure the safety of those attending Charles III’s coronation.
