Man arrested outside Buckingham Palace after throwing suspected ‘shotgun shells,’ police say

A man was arrested by British police on Tuesday after he approached the gates of Buckingham Palace and threw items “suspected to be shotgun cartridges” into the palace grounds, London’s Metropolitan Police said.

The man was arrested “on suspicion of possessing an offensive weapon,” police said in a statement, adding that a controlled explosion had also occurred.

The arrests come as police and security services prepare for the coronation of King Charles on Saturday, which is expected to draw crowds to the streets of London and heads of state from around the world to attend.

Buckingham Palace said the King and his wife Camilla were not in the palace at the time of the incident.

The statement said officers had arrested the man, and a cordon had been put in place after he was found to be in possession of a suspicious bag.

“There have been no reports of shots being fired, or injuries to officers or members of the public,” said Chief Superintendent Joseph McDonald.