A commander from Metropollitan Police has praised the “bravery” of three officers who were injured in an incident involving a 4ft sword outside Buckingham Palace.
Just after 8.30pm on Friday (August 25), a car deliberately drove at a police van and stopped in front of it in a restricted area in Constitution Hill, near the popular tourist attraction.
Three unarmed officers, from Westminster Borough, approached the blue Toyota Prius and, as they challenged the driver, he reached for a 4ft sword in the passenger's foot well.
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The officers acted quickly to detain the driver, the only occupant of the car, and sustained minor injuries in the struggle with him.
The man, who repeatedly shouted “Allahu Akbar”, was incapacitated with CS spray.
Commander Dean Haydon, head of the Met's Counter Terrorism Command, commended the officers involved, two of whom required hospital treatment but were later discharged.
He said: "I would like to pay tribute to the bravery and professionalism of these officers who quickly brought this incident under control.
“Their vigilance, courage and the swiftness of their response demonstrates how our officers are protecting the public at this time.”
The driver, 26, from the Luton area, was arrested at the scene on suspicion of grievous bodily harm and assault on police.
He was further arrested under the Terrorism Act 2000 and detectives from the Metropolitan Police Service's Counter Terrorism Command are now leading the investigation into the incident.
On Wednesday (August 30), the man remained in custody at a central London police station.
The incident is being treated as terrorism but a spokesperson for Met Police said officers will “remain open minded” while the investigation continues.
Commander Haydon added: "Officers from the Counter Terrorism Command are now investigating and searches have been carried out in the Luton area.
"We believe the man was acting alone and we are not looking for other suspects at this stage.
"While we cannot speculate on what the man was intending to do - this will be determined during the course of the investigation - it is only right that we investigate this as a terrorist incident at this time.
"This is a timely reminder that the threat from terrorism in the UK remains severe. The police, together with the security services, are doing everything we can to protect the public.”
At 10.15am on Sunday August 27, a 30-year-old man was arrested at an address in west London on suspicion of being involved in the commission, preparation or instigation of terrorism and taken into custody.
He has since been released from police custody with no further action.
Anybody who witnessed the incident or has any information or images that may assist Met Police's investigation has been urged to contact the confidential hotline on 0800 789 321.
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