3rd LD Writethru: Man with knives arrested near British parliament on suspicion of "planning terrorist act"

A man had been arrested on suspicion of "planning terrorist act" after a security incident occurred near the British Parliament with no injury reported, London police confirmed Thursday.

London Metropolitan police said that the man, aged in his late 20s, was arrested on suspicion of possession of an offensive weapon and on suspicion of the commission, preparation and instigation of acts of terrorism.

Police said knives had been recovered from him. Two knives could be seen on the ground in a video clip which was taken at the scene and aired by BBC.

Police arrested him at approximately 14:22, following a stop and search as part of an ongoing operation.

He is being detained under the Terrorism Act and is in custody in a south London police station, police said.

The city's traffic authorities confirmed that the Whitehall-Parliament Street is closed northbound due to a "police incident."

"Long delays" are expected, according to the authority.

The British Prime Minister Theresa May's official resident at Downing Street is not far away from the Westminster Parliament building.

The incident came slightly over one month after the deadly attack outside the British Parliament compound which was claimed by the so called Islamic State. Endit