Man arrested outside UK Parliament charged with assault

A man arrested near the gates of the British parliament last week has been charged with possession of an offensive weapon and assault on a policeman.

LONDON: A man arrested near the gates of the British parliament last week has been charged with possession of an offensive weapon and assault on a policeman.     

Eniola Mustafa Aminu, 27, appeared before Westminster Magistrates' Court in London yesterday and remanded in custody pending a mental health assessment. His arrest is not being characterised as a terrorist incident by Scotland Yard.     

"Eniola Mustafa Aminu from Greenwich appeared at Westminster Magistrates' Court on Monday, June 19 charged with possession of an offensive weapon and assault on a constable in the execution of his duty," the Metropolitan Police said in a statement.     

Witnesses had reported hearing "knife, knife, knife" as armed officers swooped on the suspect on Friday. 

The bearded man, wearing a grey hooded top, ran towards the St Stephen's entrance of the Houses of Parliament, which is the main visitor's entrance to the building.     

The gates of the Palace of Westminster – which houses the Parliament – were the scene of terrorist attack on March 22 when Khalid Masood ploughed a car into and killed four pedestrians on Westminster Bridge, then ran out and stabbed a police officer to death before being shot dead by officers.     

A review of security at the perimetre of the parliamentary estate was ordered by Commons Speaker John Bercow following the attack on March 22.     

The use of armed officers and physical barriers have become more visible, while a permanent barrier has been erected to protect pedestrians on Westminster Bridge, where Masood murdered five people and injured more than 50 others.     

In April, Mohammed Khalid Omar Ali, a 27-year-old foreign-born British national was arrested on suspicion of carrying knives in a very public operation near Parliament Square as part of an intelligence-led operation.     

London has been on heightened alert since the recent terrorist attack on London Bridge and Borough Market on June 3, which claimed eight lives.     

London has been on heightened alert since the recent terrorist attack on London Bridge and Borough Market on June 3, which claimed eight lives.     

Earlier this week, 47-year-old Darren Osborne drove a van into worshippers outside a mosque in London, resulting in one death and 11 injuries.

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