Scotland Yard arrest man within UK Parliament grounds

Scotland Yard on Tuesday used a Taser gun to detain and arrest a man who broke into the UK Parliament building grounds, at almost the same area where a terror attack occurred last year.

The man, who is held on trespassing charges while further investigations continue, had reportedly jumped over railings before being Tasered by the Metropolitan Police officers on duty at the Parliament building within the Palace of Westminster in central London.

"A man was detained and arrested by Carriage Gates inside the Palace of Westminster on suspicion of trespassing at a protected site," a Met Police statement said.

"A Taser was deployed. Enquiries into the circumstances continue," the statement said.

The man, described as in his 20s, was handcuffed and bundled into a police van, and driven away. The incident is not thought to be terrorism-related as it is not being investigated by the Met Police's Counter Terrorism Command.

Extra police officers, some of them armed, were brought in to bolster security at the gates, but were stood down around 45 minutes after the intrusion. 

"Always in awe at the professionalism, courage and dedication of the police who guard the Palace of Westminster. Thank you all,? UK international development secretary Penny Mordaunt tweeted soon after.

The trespass incident occurred in the same area inside the Parliament's courtyard as a terror attack last year by Islamic State inspired Khalid Masood, who ran in through the gates with a knife after ramming his car into the side of the building.

Met Police officer Keith Palmer, who was guarding the gates, was stabbed and killed, after the attacker had knocked down pedestrians indiscriminately on Westminster Bridge, killing four people. Masood was shot dead by armed officers just inside the Parliament gates in March 2017.

Since the attack, security at the Parliament gates has been beefed up, with a permanent armed presence at the entrance.