A man has been arrested near the UK parliament after being suspected of preparing terror acts, Britain&#39;s metropolitan&nbsp;police said.

The police have locked down&nbsp;Westminster street. Metropolitan police said the man was arrested for possession of weapons near the house of Parliament in central London. Police said the incident is being investigated as &quot;terrorism&quot;.

&quot;Detectives are investigating the incident,&quot; metropolitan police said.

Police said the man was in his late twenties and was detained on a major street between the parliament and the residence of prime minister Theresa May, on suspicion of committing or instigating acts of terrorism and possession of an offensive weapon.

London&#39;s police force said they knew of no immediate further threat as a result of the arrest, and said counter-terrorism officers were continuing their investigation.

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A man is led away by police in Westminster after an arrest was made on Whitehall in central London. (Reuters)
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Meanwhile, the Scottish parliament said that 3 suspicious packages were sent to political offices&nbsp;between April 25 and 26.

The packages were sent to an elected official, a political party headquarters, and a local council building. Police were investigating and further advice has been issued to elected representatives across Scotland, the assembly said.

An AFP photographer saw firearms officers surrounding the man, who was dressed in dark clothing, and pinning him to the ground at a pedestrian island.

The bearded man, with close-cropped hair, was seen being detained closed to a telephone booth used by countless tourists posing for photographs with the Houses of Parliament in the background.

David Wisniowski, who was working on a building site right next to the incident, told AFP he could see &quot;three knives on the floor, one big one and two small&quot;.

Gabrielle Hennessy, 20, a US tourist, described seeing police rush at a man.

&quot;We were walking along Parliament Square and we saw police rush at him. And then he was on the ground surrounded by police. They stood him up and that&#39;s when I saw the knife on the ground,&quot; she told AFP.

Police taped off the area in question.

An officer in forensic overalls could be seen photographing and picking up the knives, and looking inside a bag on the ground.

The incident happened close to Prime Minister Theresa May&#39;s Downing Street office.&nbsp;

May was outside London on a general election campaign visit at the time, a spokeswoman said.&nbsp;

&quot;This is an ongoing police operation and we are monitoring it,&quot; she said.&nbsp;

&quot;The prime minister has been informed by officials and she will be updated, as usual for incidents like this.&quot;

(WION with agency inputs)

Britain's metropolitan police said a man suspected of carrying terror acts has been arrested

A man has been arrested near the UK parliament after being suspected of preparing terror acts, Britain's metropolitan police said. The police have locked down Westminster street. Metropolitan police said the man was arrested for possession of weapons near the house of Parliament in central London. Police said the incident is being investigated as "terrorism". "Detectives are investigating the incident," metropolitan police said. Police said the man was in his late twenties and was detained on a major street between the parliament and the residence of prime minister Theresa May, on suspicion of committing or instigating acts of terrorism and possession of an offensive weapon. London's police force said they knew of no immediate further threat as a result of the arrest, and said counter-terrorism officers were continuing their investigation. A man is led away by police in Westminster after an arrest was made on Whitehall in central London. (Reuters) × Meanwhile, the Scottish parliament said that 3 suspicious packages were sent to political offices between April 25 and 26. The packages were sent to an elected official, a political party headquarters, and a local council building. Police were investigating and further advice has been issued to elected representatives across Scotland, the assembly said. An AFP photographer saw firearms officers surrounding the man, who was dressed in dark clothing, and pinning him to the ground at a pedestrian island. The bearded man, with close-cropped hair, was seen being detained closed to a telephone booth used by countless tourists posing for photographs with the Houses of Parliament in the background. David Wisniowski, who was working on a building site right next to the incident, told AFP he could see "three knives on the floor, one big one and two small". Gabrielle Hennessy, 20, a US tourist, described seeing police rush at a man. "We were walking along Parliament Square and we saw police rush at him. And then he was on the ground surrounded by police. They stood him up and that's when I saw the knife on the ground," she told AFP. Police taped off the area in question. An officer in forensic overalls could be seen photographing and picking up the knives, and looking inside a bag on the ground. The incident happened close to Prime Minister Theresa May's Downing Street office. May was outside London on a general election campaign visit at the time, a spokeswoman said. "This is an ongoing police operation and we are monitoring it," she said. "The prime minister has been informed by officials and she will be updated, as usual for incidents like this." (WION with agency inputs)

Man arrested near UK parliament for preparing terror attack

Police have refused to divulge the identity of the attacker and the victims in last night&#39;s deadly attack close to the British parliament, in what police called a terrorist incident.

Mark Rowley, acting deputy commissioner at Metropolitan police, also parried away media questions whether the assailant was a British national.&nbsp;

Four people were killed and about&nbsp;40&nbsp;injured in London on Wednesday (March 22) after a car ploughed into pedestrians and an attacker stabbed a policeman in the heart of London.

This is the revised death toll after the police said five had died last night.

Meanwhile, British parliamentarians have decided to head to work today, albeit in a sombre mood.

&#39;Depraved attack&#39;

On Wednesday, the assailant fatally stabbed a policeman, while the victims were among the pedestrians hit by the car as it tore along Westminster Bridge, which is right next to parliament.

&quot;We&#39;ve declared this as a terrorist incident and the counter-terrorism command are carrying out a full-scale investigation into the events today,&quot; Mark Rowley, Britain&#39;s most senior counter-terrorism officer, told reporters on Wednesday.

&quot;The attack started when a car was driven over Westminster Bridge, hitting and injuring a number of members of the public, also including three police officers on their way back from a commendation ceremony.

British Prime Minister Theresa&nbsp;May&nbsp;described the attack as &quot;sick and depraved&quot; in a defiant address in which she affirmed parliament would meet as normal on Thursday.

&quot;A car then crashed near to parliament and at least one man, armed with a knife continued the attack and tried to enter parliament.&quot;

Reuters reporters who were inside parliament at the time heard loud bangs and shortly afterwards saw the knifeman and the stabbed policeman lying on the ground in a courtyard just outside, within the gated perimeter of the parliamentary estate.

A Reuters photographer said he saw at least a dozen people injured on the bridge. His photographs showed people lying on the ground, some of them bleeding heavily and one under a bus.

A woman was pulled alive, but with serious injuries, from the Thames, the Port of London Authority said. The circumstances of her fall into the river were unclear.

Three French schoolchildren aged 15 or 16 were among those injured in the attack, French officials said.

The attack took place on the first anniversary of attacks by Islamist militants that killed 32 people in Brussels.

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British Prime Minister Theresa May is driven away from Parliament in her Jaguar. (AFP)
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An air ambulance lands outside the UK Parliament. (Reuters)
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A woman assists an injured man on Westminster bridge. (Reuters)
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A woman lies injured under a bus on Westminster bridge. (AFP)
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PARLIAMENT SESSION SUSPENDED

&quot;I just saw a car go out of control and just go into pedestrians on the bridge,&quot; eyewitness Bernadette Kerrigan told Sky News. She was on a tour bus on the bridge at the time.

&quot;As we were going across the bridge, we saw people lying on the floor, they were obviously injured. I saw about 10 people maybe. And then the emergency services started to arrive. Everyone was just running everywhere.&quot;

The House of Commons, which was in session at the time, was immediately suspended and lawmakers were asked to stay inside.

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I am locked in my office with other MPs and frightened young researchers. We have broken open a bottle of whiskey.
&mdash; Michael Fabricant (@Mike_Fabricant) <a href="https://twitter.com/Mike_Fabricant/status/844595676919058439">March 22, 2017</a></blockquote>
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Prime Minister Theresa May was safe after the incident, a spokesman for her office said. He declined to say where May was when the attack took place.

Journalist Quentin Letts of the Daily Mail newspaper told LBC radio that he had witnessed the stabbing of the policeman and the shooting of the assailant from his office in the parliament building.

&quot;He (the assailant) ran in through the open gates ... He set about one of the policemen with what looked like a stick,&quot; Letts said.

&quot;The policeman fell over on the ground and it was quite horrible to watch and then having done that, he disengaged and ran towards the House of Commons entrance used by MPs (members of parliament) and got about 20 yards or so when two plain-clothed guys with guns shot him.&quot;

Britain is on its second-highest alert level of &quot;severe&quot; meaning an attack by militants is considered highly likely.

In May 2013, two British Islamists stabbed to death soldier Lee Rigby on a street in southeast London.

In&nbsp;July 2005, four British Islamists killed 52 commuters and themselves in suicide bombings on the British capital&#39;s transport system in what was London&#39;s worst peacetime attack.

(WION with inputs from Reuters)

Police also scaled down the death toll from five people to four during a short media briefing

Police have refused to divulge the identity of the attacker and the victims in last night's deadly attack close to the British parliament, in what police called a terrorist incident. Mark Rowley, acting deputy commissioner at Metropolitan police, also parried away media questions whether the assailant was a British national. Four people were killed and about 40 injured in London on Wednesday (March 22) after a car ploughed into pedestrians and an attacker stabbed a policeman in the heart of London. This is the revised death toll after the police said five had died last night. Meanwhile, British parliamentarians have decided to head to work today, albeit in a sombre mood. 'Depraved attack' On Wednesday, the assailant fatally stabbed a policeman, while the victims were among the pedestrians hit by the car as it tore along Westminster Bridge, which is right next to parliament. "We've declared this as a terrorist incident and the counter-terrorism command are carrying out a full-scale investigation into the events today," Mark Rowley, Britain's most senior counter-terrorism officer, told reporters on Wednesday. "The attack started when a car was driven over Westminster Bridge, hitting and injuring a number of members of the public, also including three police officers on their way back from a commendation ceremony. British Prime Minister Theresa May described the attack as "sick and depraved" in a defiant address in which she affirmed parliament would meet as normal on Thursday. "A car then crashed near to parliament and at least one man, armed with a knife continued the attack and tried to enter parliament." Reuters reporters who were inside parliament at the time heard loud bangs and shortly afterwards saw the knifeman and the stabbed policeman lying on the ground in a courtyard just outside, within the gated perimeter of the parliamentary estate. A Reuters photographer said he saw at least a dozen people injured on the bridge. His photographs showed people lying on the ground, some of them bleeding heavily and one under a bus. A woman was pulled alive, but with serious injuries, from the Thames, the Port of London Authority said. The circumstances of her fall into the river were unclear. Three French schoolchildren aged 15 or 16 were among those injured in the attack, French officials said. The attack took place on the first anniversary of attacks by Islamist militants that killed 32 people in Brussels. British Prime Minister Theresa May is driven away from Parliament in her Jaguar. (AFP) × An air ambulance lands outside the UK Parliament. (Reuters) × A woman assists an injured man on Westminster bridge. (Reuters) × A woman lies injured under a bus on Westminster bridge. (AFP) × PARLIAMENT SESSION SUSPENDED "I just saw a car go out of control and just go into pedestrians on the bridge," eyewitness Bernadette Kerrigan told Sky News. She was on a tour bus on the bridge at the time. "As we were going across the bridge, we saw people lying on the floor, they were obviously injured. I saw about 10 people maybe. And then the emergency services started to arrive. Everyone was just running everywhere." The House of Commons, which was in session at the time, was immediately suspended and lawmakers were asked to stay inside. I am locked in my office with other MPs and frightened young researchers. We have broken open a bottle of whiskey. — Michael Fabricant (@Mike_Fabricant) March 22, 2017 × Prime Minister Theresa May was safe after the incident, a spokesman for her office said. He declined to say where May was when the attack took place. Journalist Quentin Letts of the Daily Mail newspaper told LBC radio that he had witnessed the stabbing of the policeman and the shooting of the assailant from his office in the parliament building. "He (the assailant) ran in through the open gates ... He set about one of the policemen with what looked like a stick," Letts said. "The policeman fell over on the ground and it was quite horrible to watch and then having done that, he disengaged and ran towards the House of Commons entrance used by MPs (members of parliament) and got about 20 yards or so when two plain-clothed guys with guns shot him." Britain is on its second-highest alert level of "severe" meaning an attack by militants is considered highly likely. In May 2013, two British Islamists stabbed to death soldier Lee Rigby on a street in southeast London. In July 2005, four British Islamists killed 52 commuters and themselves in suicide bombings on the British capital's transport system in what was London's worst peacetime attack. (WION with inputs from Reuters)

London terrorist attack: Police avoid divulging attacker's identity

The speaker of Britain&#39;s lower house of parliament said on Monday he would not support any plans for US&nbsp;President Donald Trump to address parliament during a state visit planned for later this year, citing Trump&#39;s&nbsp;immigration ban as a factor.

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More than 1.8 million people in Britain have signed a petition calling for Trump&#39;s planned visit to be cancelled or downgraded to avoid embarrassing Queen Elizabeth, part of a grassroots backlash against his immigration policies.

Prime Minister Theresa May has defended the decision to offer a state visit, but more than 150 lawmakers have signed a symbolic motion calling for Trump not to be given the honour of speaking in parliament.

Asked by an opposition Labour lawmaker about the possibility of a parliamentary address, House of Commons speaker John Bercow said he shared the concerns.

&quot;As far as this place (parliament) is concerned, I feel very strongly that our opposition to racism and to sexism and our support for equality before the law and an independent judiciary are hugely important considerations,&quot; Bercow said, earning a round of applause from lawmakers.

Trump&#39;s executive order barring entry to the United States for refugees and people from seven Muslim-majority countries has prompted worldwide protests, including by thousands of demonstrators in London.

The temporary immigration ban faced a legal hurdle on Monday that could determine whether he can push through the most controversial and far-reaching policy of his first two weeks in office.

As one of the key figures whose approval would be needed for a parliamentary address, Bercow said he would oppose any possible move to invite Trump to speak in either of the two locations which host foreign leaders during state visits.

In 2011, Trump&#39;s predecessor Barack Obama became the first US president to address both houses of parliament in Westminster Hall, the oldest building in the parliamentary palace, which has also hosted South Africa&#39;s Nelson Mandela and France&#39;s Charles de Gaulle.

&quot;Before the imposition of the migrant ban, I would myself have been strongly opposed to an address by President Trump in Westminster Hall. After the imposition of the migrant ban by President Trump, I am even more strongly opposed to an address by President Trump in Westminster Hall,&quot; Bercow said.

&quot;An address by a foreign leader to both houses of parliament is not an automatic right; it is an earned honour.&quot;

(Reuters)

John Bercow said Parliament opposed 'racism and sexism', and a spontaneous and rousing applause broke out

The speaker of Britain's lower house of parliament said on Monday he would not support any plans for US President Donald Trump to address parliament during a state visit planned for later this year, citing Trump's immigration ban as a factor. More than 1.8 million people in Britain have signed a petition calling for Trump's planned visit to be cancelled or downgraded to avoid embarrassing Queen Elizabeth, part of a grassroots backlash against his immigration policies. Prime Minister Theresa May has defended the decision to offer a state visit, but more than 150 lawmakers have signed a symbolic motion calling for Trump not to be given the honour of speaking in parliament. Asked by an opposition Labour lawmaker about the possibility of a parliamentary address, House of Commons speaker John Bercow said he shared the concerns. "As far as this place (parliament) is concerned, I feel very strongly that our opposition to racism and to sexism and our support for equality before the law and an independent judiciary are hugely important considerations," Bercow said, earning a round of applause from lawmakers. Trump's executive order barring entry to the United States for refugees and people from seven Muslim-majority countries has prompted worldwide protests, including by thousands of demonstrators in London. The temporary immigration ban faced a legal hurdle on Monday that could determine whether he can push through the most controversial and far-reaching policy of his first two weeks in office. As one of the key figures whose approval would be needed for a parliamentary address, Bercow said he would oppose any possible move to invite Trump to speak in either of the two locations which host foreign leaders during state visits. In 2011, Trump's predecessor Barack Obama became the first US president to address both houses of parliament in Westminster Hall, the oldest building in the parliamentary palace, which has also hosted South Africa's Nelson Mandela and France's Charles de Gaulle. "Before the imposition of the migrant ban, I would myself have been strongly opposed to an address by President Trump in Westminster Hall. After the imposition of the migrant ban by President Trump, I am even more strongly opposed to an address by President Trump in Westminster Hall," Bercow said. "An address by a foreign leader to both houses of parliament is not an automatic right; it is an earned honour." (Reuters)

British Speaker opposes letting Trump address parliament

The British parliament this week gave the green light to new bulk surveillance powers for police and intelligence services that critics have denounced as the most far-reaching of any western democracy.

The Investigatory Powers Bill would, among other measures, require websites to keep customers&#39; browsing history for up to a year and allow law enforcement agencies to access them to help with investigations.

Edward Snowden, the former US National Security Agency contractor turned whistleblower, said the powers &quot;went further than many autocracies&quot;.

&quot;The UK has just legalised the most extreme surveillance in the history of western democracy,&quot; he tweeted.

The bill, the first major update of British surveillance laws for 15 years, was passed by the House of Lords and now only needs rubber-stamping by Queen Elizabeth II.

Prime Minister Theresa May introduced the bill in March when she was still interior minister, describing it as &quot;world-leading&quot; legislation intended to reflect the change in online communications.

It gives legal footing to existing but murky powers such as the hacking of computers and mobile phones, while introducing new safeguards such as the need for a judge to authorise interception warrants.

But critics have dubbed it the &quot;snooper&#39;s charter&quot; and say that, in authorising the blanket retention and access by authorities of records of emails, calls, texts and web activity, it breaches fundamental rights of privacy.

Rights organisation Liberty has challenged the legislation at the European Court of Justice, arguing it is incompatible with human rights law, and a judgement is expected next year.

&quot;The passage of the Snoopers&#39; Charter through parliament is a sad day for British liberty,&quot; said Bella Sankey, the group&#39;s policy director.

&quot;Under the guise of counter-terrorism, the state has achieved totalitarian-style surveillance powers -- the most intrusive system of any democracy in human history.

&quot;It has the ability to indiscriminately hack, intercept, record, and monitor the communications and internet use of the entire population.&quot;

Jim Killock, executive director of digital campaigners Open Rights Group, warned the impact of the legislation would reach beyond Britain.

&quot;It is likely that other countries, including authoritarian regimes with poor human rights records, will use this law to justify their own intrusive surveillance powers,&quot; he said.

The bill also reinforces existing encryption powers, allowing officials to ask technology companies to provide content where it is deemed &quot;practicable&quot;, although firms fear it may open the door to further demands on the sector.&nbsp;

(AFP)

Critics have denounced them as the most far-reaching of any western democracy

The British parliament this week gave the green light to new bulk surveillance powers for police and intelligence services that critics have denounced as the most far-reaching of any western democracy. The Investigatory Powers Bill would, among other measures, require websites to keep customers' browsing history for up to a year and allow law enforcement agencies to access them to help with investigations. Edward Snowden, the former US National Security Agency contractor turned whistleblower, said the powers "went further than many autocracies". "The UK has just legalised the most extreme surveillance in the history of western democracy," he tweeted. The bill, the first major update of British surveillance laws for 15 years, was passed by the House of Lords and now only needs rubber-stamping by Queen Elizabeth II. Prime Minister Theresa May introduced the bill in March when she was still interior minister, describing it as "world-leading" legislation intended to reflect the change in online communications. It gives legal footing to existing but murky powers such as the hacking of computers and mobile phones, while introducing new safeguards such as the need for a judge to authorise interception warrants. But critics have dubbed it the "snooper's charter" and say that, in authorising the blanket retention and access by authorities of records of emails, calls, texts and web activity, it breaches fundamental rights of privacy. Rights organisation Liberty has challenged the legislation at the European Court of Justice, arguing it is incompatible with human rights law, and a judgement is expected next year. "The passage of the Snoopers' Charter through parliament is a sad day for British liberty," said Bella Sankey, the group's policy director. "Under the guise of counter-terrorism, the state has achieved totalitarian-style surveillance powers -- the most intrusive system of any democracy in human history. "It has the ability to indiscriminately hack, intercept, record, and monitor the communications and internet use of the entire population." Jim Killock, executive director of digital campaigners Open Rights Group, warned the impact of the legislation would reach beyond Britain. "It is likely that other countries, including authoritarian regimes with poor human rights records, will use this law to justify their own intrusive surveillance powers," he said. The bill also reinforces existing encryption powers, allowing officials to ask technology companies to provide content where it is deemed "practicable", although firms fear it may open the door to further demands on the sector. (AFP)

UK lawmakers approve 'most sweeping' surveillance powers

A 23-year-old man has been arrested on suspicion of rape following an alleged incident inside Britain&#39;s Houses of Parliament, London police said on Tuesday.

The attack reportedly took place in the early hours of last Friday and the suspect, who police have not named, was detained later that day. Police said he was not a lawmaker.

Police said the man had been released on bail until January pending further inquiries.

A spokesman for the House of Commons, one of Britain&#39;s most recognisable buildings on the banks of the River Thames in Westminster, said they were aware of the incident and parliament was working closely with the police.

(Reuters)

The police detained the suspect soon after the incident took place last Friday, but the man was released on bail until January

A 23-year-old man has been arrested on suspicion of rape following an alleged incident inside Britain's Houses of Parliament, London police said on Tuesday. The attack reportedly took place in the early hours of last Friday and the suspect, who police have not named, was detained later that day. Police said he was not a lawmaker. Police said the man had been released on bail until January pending further inquiries. A spokesman for the House of Commons, one of Britain's most recognisable buildings on the banks of the River Thames in Westminster, said they were aware of the incident and parliament was working closely with the police. (Reuters)

Man arrested over alleged rape inside UK parliament

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Man arrested near UK parliament for preparing terror attack

London terrorist attack: Police avoid divulging attacker's identity

British Speaker opposes letting Trump address parliament

UK lawmakers approve 'most sweeping' surveillance powers

Man arrested over alleged rape inside UK parliament