Aug. 26 (UPI) — A man shouting “Allahu Akbar” drove a car at police guarding Buckingham Palace in London on Friday night in what investigators are calling a terrorist incident.
The suspect, who was arrested by the officers, brandished a 4-foot sword as police tried to wrestle him into submission, officials said. Three officers suffered minor cuts to their hands and arms. No civilians were injured, the BBC reported.
Scotland Yard said they are treating the attack as an isolated incident and do not believe it was part of a wider plot against London.
Police said the man drove a blue Toyota Prius into a secure area outside Buckingham Palace, the British monarchy’s official residence in London, shouting the Arabic phrase for “Allah is great.” Officers responded with tear gas to help subdue the man, who struggled with officers before they were able to get him under control.
British Prime Minister Theresa May commended the officers for how they handled the situation, saying they acted “quickly and bravely” in the face of an attack. London Mayor Sadiq Kahn also thanked the officers.
No members of the royal family were inside the palace at the time. A spokesman said Buckingham Palace would resume its normal summer visitor tours on Saturday, promising it would be “business as usual.”
