Police say the man whose arrest led to a controlled explosion at Buckingham Palace asked to speak to a soldier before he allegedly began throwing shotgun cartridges.
The man was arrested outside Buckingham Palace in central London on Tuesday after he approached the gates.
King Charles and the queen consort were not at Buckingham Palace at the time.
At a media briefing on Wednesday the deputy assistant commissioner Ade Adelekan said the suspect was arrested for possession of a lock knife and on suspicion of possessing ammunition.
Adelekan said the man approached the palace gates at about 7.15pm and asked to speak to a soldier. When he was told no, shotgun cartridges were thrown.
Adelekan said the suspect was “grabbed within seconds” and after being searched was arrested within five minutes.
The suspect had told police a bag he was carrying “needed to be handled carefully”. At 8.12pm a controlled explosion of the bag took place.
Adelekan said police had not pointed their guns at him and a review of security had found police plans had worked.
He said terrorism was not believed to be a factor and the investigation continues.
The incident comes amid meticulous preparations for the king’s coronation on Saturday at Westminster Abbey in London in a security procedure called Operation Golden Orb.
Thousands of officers are being drawn from across the UK for the ceremonial event.
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