UK police arrest man with 'weapon' near Parliament

London police have arrested an individual near Downing Street offices with "knives" under the terrorism act, a statement said Thursday.

A statement from Scotland Yard said a man was stopped and searched and was arrested after the discovery of weapons.

"The man, aged in his late twenties, was arrested on suspicion of possession of an offensive weapon and on suspicion of the commission, preparation and instigation of acts of terrorism," it said.

"Knives have been recovered from him, " it added.

Police said the man was arrested on suspicion of preparation for a terror attack.

* Forensic Officers examine items left on the pavement after police lead away a man following an incident in Whitehall, Westminster, Central London, Britain, 27 April 2017. Reports have suggested a man was arrested carrying knifes. (EPA)

"Detectives from the Counter Terrorism Command are continuing their investigation, and as a result of this arrest there is no immediate known threat," the statement added.

A number of heavily armed officers cordoned off the area and forensics officers are currently working on the corner of Parliament Street.

* Firearms officiers from the British police detain a man on the ground on Whitehall near the Houses of Parliament in central London on April 27, 2017 before the man was taken away by police. Metropolitan police attended an incident on Whitehall in central London near the Houses of Parliament where one man was arrested, police said. (AFP)

The statement also said there were no injuries in the incident only around 100 meters away from the parliament building.

Khalid Masood had killed 4 civilians on Westminster Bridge and a police officer in a terror attack on March 22 just outside the parliament building.

Firearms officiers from the British police detain a man on Whitehall near the Houses of Parliament in central London on April 27, 2017 before being taken away by police. Metropolitan police attended an incident on Whitehall in central London near the Houses of Parliament where one man was arrested, police said. (AFP)
UK PM MAY INFORMED OF WESTMINSTER INCIDENT
British Prime Minister Theresa May will be kept updated about an incident in which a knife-carrying man was arrested on terrorism charges close to parliament, her spokeswoman said on Thursday.

"It is an ongoing police operation and we are monitoring it. The prime minister has, as you would expect, been informed by officials and she will be updated as usual for incidents like this," the spokeswoman said at a regular media briefing.

May was not at her nearby residence of 10 Downing Street at the time of the incident, the spokeswoman added. (Reporting by Kylie MacLellan, writing by David Milliken, editing by Guy Faulconbridge)