London police arrest knife-carrying suspect on suspicion of terrorism

April 27 (UPI) -- London's Metropolitan Police on Thursday said authorities arrested a 27-year-old knife-carrying man near the Houses of Parliament in Westminster on suspicion of terrorist acts.

Police arrested the suspect in the iconic Westminster road of Whitehall. Witnesses said the suspect carried a backpack holding several knives.

Met Police said armed officers from the Specialist Firearms Command carried out the arrest.

"He was arrested on suspicion of possession of an offensive weapon and on suspicion of the commission, preparation and instigation of acts of terrorism. Knives have been recovered from him," Met Police said in a statement. "He is being detained under the Terrorism Act and is in custody in a south London police station."

Met Police said there is no immediate known threat following the arrest and that Counter Terrorism Command detectives are continuing an investigation. Officials said the suspect had been under surveillance prior to the incident.

The incident comes after the Westminster attack on March 22 in which Khalid Masood killed five people.