UPDATE 1 – Man attacks police outside Buckingham Palace in apparent terror attack

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By BNO NEWS

A man armed with a knife has been arrested after attacking police officers outside Buckingham Palace in London, causing minor injuries to two police officers, British officials say. It is being treated as an act of terrorism.

The incident began at 8:35 p.m. local time on Friday when a man stopped his car in a restricted area near a police car on the Mall roundabout, close to Buckingham Palace. Police said the officers then spotted a large bladed weapon in his vehicle and went to arrest him.

“During the course of detaining the man, two male police officers suffered minor injuries to their arm,” the Metropolitan Police Service said in a statement on early Saturday. Both officers were taken to an area hospital and treated for their injuries before being released.

A 26-year-old man, whose identity was not immediately released, was arrested at the scene on suspicion of grievous bodily harm and assault on police. He was treated at a local hospital for minor injuries and later taken into custody under the Terrorism Act 2000.

“Enquiries into the full circumstances are ongoing,” police said, adding that the Metropolitan Police’s Counter Terrorism Command had taken over the investigation. They provided no further details about the possible motive.

Photos and video from the scene of the incident showed numerous police vehicles with lights and sirens alongside the gates of Buckingham Palace. Roads in the area of the royal palace were cordoned off by police.

Buckingham Palace is the home of Queen Elizabeth II, though she was not at the palace when the incident occurred.

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