London police arrest man on terrorism charge near UK parliament

Police say the man was detained on a major street between parliament and the residence of PM Theresa May

LONDON: British police said on Thursday they had arrested a man on suspicion of preparing a terrorist attack after stopping him while he was carrying knives near Britain's parliament.

Police said the man was in his late twenties, and was detained on a major street between parliament and the residence of Prime Minister Theresa May, on suspicion of committing or instigating acts of terrorism and possession of an offensive weapon.

Firearms officers from the British police arrest a man on Whitehall near the Houses of Parliament in central London on April 27, 2017. PHOTO: AFP

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.

The incident comes just over a month after a British-born ploughed a car into pedestrians on nearby Westminster Bridge killing four people before stabbing to death a police officer in the grounds of parliament.