The Metropolitan Police are said to have rushed to arrest the man just before 10pm on Friday night, the second full day mourners were able to pay their respects to the former monarch, hours after a vigil by senior royals. A source told the Guardian that the man stepped out of line past the hearse and managed to climb the steps and touch the coffin, before being immediately arrested – a report neither the Met nor the House of Commons denied. A statement from Scotland Yard said: “Parliamentary and Diplomatic Protection has arrested a man at Westminster Hall following a disturbance.” It added that the man was “arrested for an offense under the Public Order Act and is currently in custody”. The commotion is believed to have taken place shortly before 10pm, when many mourners would have queued for more than 12 hours. Broadcasters showing the procession of mourners cut from the scene and showed the view outside parliament. A few hours earlier, the king, Princess Anne, Prince Andrew and Prince Edward stood around the Queen’s coffin in what was known as the princes’ vigil. A similar vigil is expected to be held on Saturday night by the queen’s grandchildren. It comes after a man appeared at Westminster Magistrates’ Court over allegations two women were sexually assaulted while waiting in line to see the Queen in state. A huge amount of planning for security arrangements has gone into preparations for the suspicious situation, given the increased risk of terrorist attacks due to the large crowds that have gathered in central London.
