A man who sparked a major security scare by allegedly throwing shotgun cartridges over the gates of Buckingham Palace has been detained under the Mental Health Act, police said on Thursday.
Scotland Yard revealed yesterday that a 59-year-old man approached officers outside the palace asking to see a soldier at 7.15pm on Tuesday.
When they said that was not possible, the suspect is said to have started hurling shotgun cartridges over the gates.
He was searched and arrested on suspicion of possessing a lock knife and ammunition. The incident is not being treated as terror-related. A controlled explosion on a suspicious bag was carried out as a precaution.
On Thursday a Metropolitan Police spokesperson said: “On Wednesday, 3 May he was detained under the Mental Health Act and taken to hospital. He will remain on bail whilst receiving medical care.”
Speaking earlier at a briefing for journalists ahead of the coronation, Metropolitan Police Deputy Assistant Commissioner Ade Adelekan said the man told officers that they should handle his rucksack with care, which led to a controlled explosion being carried out on the bag.
The blast, which could be heard live on GB News, happened as cordons were put up in the area just hours before a major military rehearsal of the coronation procession overnight.
Footage captured by Australia’s Channel 7 News showed four officers detaining a man, dressed in an olive green gilet and checked shirt, outside the gates to the palace near a security hut where armed officers are stationed.
Mr Adelekan said the suspect was detained within seconds and arrested within five minutes.
He said he had no knowledge of reports that the man had been shouting that he wanted to kill the King before he was arrested.
Neither the King nor the Queen Consort were at Buckingham Palace at the time of the incident, but Charles did host Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese during an audience there earlier on Tuesday
