Buckingham Palace on lockdown after man arrested for throwing suspected shotgun cartridges on the…

Buckingham Palace is on lockdown after a man threw suspected shotgun cartridges on the ground outside the royal residence – just days from Charles’ coronation.

The Metropolitan Police said officers arrested a man around 7pm tonight after he approached the Palace gates.

Witnesses said he was seen throwing a ‘number of items’ in the residence grounds.

It is understood that none of the royal family were inside the palace at the time of the incident. 

The Metropolitan Police said officers arrested a man around 7pm tonight after he approached the Palace gates

Royal fans were also starting to set up camp along The Mall to ensure front-row seats of the historic event this weekend.

Police added that the objects were recovered, and that the man is now in custody after he was also found to be in possession of a ‘suspicious bag’.

They said: ‘Officers quickly detained a man at around 7pm on Tuesday, May 2, after he approached the gates of Buckingham Palace SW1 and threw a number of items – suspected to be shotgun cartridges – into the Palace grounds.

A controlled explosion heard on live TV as police investigate suspicious bag at Buckingham Palace

Police added that the objects were recovered, and that the man is now in custody after he was also found to be in possession of a ‘suspicious bag’

‘These have been recovered and will be taken for specialist examination. There have been no reports of any shots fired, or any injuries.

‘The man has been arrested on suspicion of possession of an offensive weapon and will be taken into custody.

‘Cordons are in place after the man was also found to be in possession of a suspicious bag. Specialists are in attendance and will assess the item.’

More to follow