British police Tasered a man who was holding a large knife to his throat in front of a crowd of tourists outside Buckingham Palace in London on Sunday.
Scotland Yard said the man, estimated to be in his 50s, acted aggressively when confronted by police outside the palace gates, the Associated Press reported.
Image source: YouTube
Cell phone video posted online showed him holding a green-handled blade to his throat in the middle of the square. Tourists had gathered to watch the palace’s changing of the guard event, according to the Daily Mail. A police officer on horseback shouted at passerby to back up and move away.
When an officer first hit the man with the stun gun, he appeared to try to charge toward the officer with his knife outstretched. The man fell to the ground a few moments later, the knife was kicked away and police pounced on top of him.
Image source: YouTube
Image source: YouTube
The man was not immediately named or identified.
Officers said he “tried to make an exhibition of himself during the guard change,” according to the Guardian. A police spokesman told the Independent the man was carrying two knives but did not make any threats to the public.
Eyewitness Kevin Burrows told the Huffington Post the man broke through a cordon as the guard change was about to happen.
“I thought ‘Oh my God, I can’t believe it,’” Brown said. “There must have been about 15 police officers on foot who surrounded him once he’d been Tasered. The police saw him really quickly and were obviously cautious. He was in his 40s I’d say and I think he had knives in both hands. Everybody was standing back when it happened and people were actually quite calm, I think everyone was surprised.”
Image source: YouTube
Image source: YouTube
Queen Elizabeth II and her husband Prince Philip were at their country retreat, Sandringham Estate, when the incident occurred.
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Comments (96)
GoodStuff
Feb. 3, 2013 at 12:43pmBritish police carry guns now?
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Imakemyownbed
Feb. 3, 2013 at 1:24pmThe british police have carried guns for years, they also carry MP-5′s in the ports and airports even before 9-11 dont let the media fool you its still legal to own a shotgun for skeet and small game hunting but they cost a lot to buy and to get all the permits.
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turkey13
Feb. 3, 2013 at 3:11pmThe Bobbies got tired of being shot & shot at about 3 years ago and figured that all the gangs and thugs were even better armed than when they gave up their guns. It’s a bummer to be pointing a Bobbie stick at some crooks and they point a bunch of guns back at you.
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Independent4233
Feb. 3, 2013 at 3:56pmAnother nut case threatening to kill himself?
What’s the problem?
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canadianlady
Feb. 3, 2013 at 4:26pmNot true! Most front line police in the UK do NOT carry guns.
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KyleD
Feb. 3, 2013 at 4:47pmI believe only special police units carry weapons in the UK, for the most part they don’t.
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sasquatch08
Feb. 3, 2013 at 5:14pmKYLED is correct. British police have special units that carry firearms and special officers called “Authorized Firearms Officers” (AFO). Most of them just carry an expandable baton, and “incapacitating spray” like CS or MACE.
The UK has “regular” police and then Authorized Firearms Officers who carry a gun and sometimes a tazer. (Note the guy with a tazer also had a sidearm, while the rest of them didn’t have a tazer).
They also have special branches that carry firearms, like the Ministry of Defense agents and Diplomatic Protection Group.
AFO’s make up 6780 of 21181 (32%) police in the UK according to Wikipedia.
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Leader1776
Feb. 4, 2013 at 9:21am@GOODSTUFF
The gun control laws in the UK are VERY strict and where the left want them here. ALL guns have been removed from law abiding citizen there for quite some time. After that crime, including WITH guns, rose precipitously. Bobbies had to be armed in order to deal with the significant rise in violence associated with crimes. They were at risk.
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Secret Squirrel
Feb. 4, 2013 at 11:08pm“One false move and the Arab gets it!”
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sbenard
Feb. 3, 2013 at 12:37pmWhat if the man had fallen on the blade? Did that not occur to them?
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COFemale
Feb. 3, 2013 at 12:59pmWhat difference does it make. He was planning to kill himself anyway.
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straitshot
Feb. 3, 2013 at 2:47pmSomeone should have tripped him.
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Hangman54
Feb. 3, 2013 at 11:46pm“What difference does it make. He was planning to kill himself anyway”
My point exactly…
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jungle J
Feb. 3, 2013 at 11:51amalways seems to be a shrill loud mouthed women around.
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IMCHRISTIAN
Feb. 3, 2013 at 12:46pmIn this case, it was because of a low down loud mouthed crazy male.
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Ceefour
Feb. 3, 2013 at 4:24pmThat shrill voice as coming from one of the mounted bobetts…..the constabulary crack troop….
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MrKnowItAll
Feb. 3, 2013 at 11:47amThe Mind is a Self Destructive Weapon.
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Snowleopard {gallery of cat folks}
Feb. 3, 2013 at 12:15pmExactly.
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Silversmith
Feb. 3, 2013 at 11:39amOh look, another person of middle eastern descent waving a weapon. Hard to get away from the stereotype when we see it day in and day out in the news.
Silversmith
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Comcast3
Feb. 3, 2013 at 11:48amNo kidding…
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The_Fifth_Column
Feb. 3, 2013 at 11:39amNothing to see here folks…..move along now.
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ThorLoser
Feb. 3, 2013 at 11:35amCan the journalists who write these articles not see what happened?
The first officer fired his taser and the barbs did not penetrate correctly.
The suspect then turned towards the officer and used the knife to knock off the leads and threaten the officer.
A second officer then got a good hit on the suspects back with a second taser, ending the encounter.
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msjoe43
Feb. 3, 2013 at 1:44pmThe headline would have been:
Suspect after being shot in the hand with a “sock” type round to dislodge a knife.
British police should have used the 12-gauge “bean bag” round instead of using a taser to the knife to self-throat made who want to eveybody watch him slice his throat open.
The British should follow the model set by Janet Napolitano’s “wisdom” required our warriors on the front line of our southern border war to fire a bean bag round before firing a real bullet.
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dumbugga
Feb. 3, 2013 at 11:33amReminds me of “Blazing Saddles” when the Sheriff holds himself hostage!
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Al J Zira
Feb. 3, 2013 at 4:14pmDo what he say, do what he say!!!!! LOL!!!
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Rick Steele
Feb. 3, 2013 at 5:01pm“isn’t anyone going to help that poor man?”
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gauge
Feb. 3, 2013 at 11:25amThe man was not immediately named or identified.
Of course he wasn’t.
Why?
Because he’s muslim!
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Karama
Feb. 3, 2013 at 1:46pmYep.
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LiberalsRCrazy
Feb. 3, 2013 at 11:24amDon’t tase me bro, Don’t tase me bro!!
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P4cooler
Feb. 3, 2013 at 11:20amThe guy was mentally unstable and danger to himself. Law enforcement may have saved his life, besides ending a dangerous situation quickly. If the police solved the situation with ,40 or 45 auto…. I would still give them praise. This goof is lucky to be alive.
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jas7751
Feb. 3, 2013 at 11:18amWhen does the graphic part take place?
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strawberry411a
Feb. 3, 2013 at 11:21amMuslim practice game? Looks like he hasn’t quite grasped the ways if Islam: kill everyone ELSE first.
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db321
Feb. 3, 2013 at 11:29amWas that the Queen Mum yelling at everyone to move back?
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Walkabout
Feb. 3, 2013 at 11:05amThe knife wielding man is Muslim.
Either his life sucks that bad or he wants publicity for a cause.
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EgoLacuna
Feb. 3, 2013 at 11:26amHow do you know?
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Walkabout
Feb. 3, 2013 at 6:11pmA. I have been to London more than once.
B. The picture speaks for itself.
C. Figure the odds.
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QuranIsCorruptAndMuhammadPossessedBySatan
Feb. 4, 2013 at 12:37amYou can tell by the hat he is wearing. It is a Pashtun style hat that is worn by Pakistanis or Afghans…and they are mainly Muslim.
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QuranIsCorruptAndMuhammadPossessedBySatan
Feb. 4, 2013 at 12:52amNotice the color of his sneakers and the handle of the knife.
Muslims believe that the color green represents Islam. That is why Pakistan’s flag has green in it.
So he is probably of Pakistani background.
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purecolorartist
Feb. 3, 2013 at 11:05amReminds me of that scene in “Blazing Saddles”. Just let him do his thing….
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crackerone
Feb. 3, 2013 at 11:13amYep, nothing graphic about it!
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ninja
Feb. 3, 2013 at 11:17amCleavon Little: “The next man that makes a move, the ni%%er gets it!”
hahaha!!!
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FlagWavingPatriot
Feb. 3, 2013 at 10:58amPut a .308 round through his skull. That’ll keep him from hurting himself.
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Meemster
Feb. 3, 2013 at 10:56amThe shocking thing to me was the guy with the gun strapped to his leg. He should have shot the idiot and been done with it. Now the gov has to house, feed and treat him. Then due to pressure from the “peaceful,” “loving” Muslim community let hom back on the street to more than likely hurt someone else this next time.
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MohammadShapiro
Feb. 3, 2013 at 10:53amThe cop should have fired the darts into his head, that way you subdue the threat while administering psychiatric therapy simultaneously.
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jas7751
Feb. 3, 2013 at 11:19amHangover
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NoMoMrNiceGuy
Feb. 3, 2013 at 10:51amShould have let him cut his throat. Now that is graphic. I love the Fem Bobby telling everyone to move away – Nothing to see here folks – keep moving.
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china clipper
Feb. 3, 2013 at 10:36amGraphic in what way?
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progressiveslayer
Feb. 3, 2013 at 10:34amGraphic video with no blood?
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Fubared
Feb. 3, 2013 at 10:46amDerpa with knife to his own throat seems like a non issue. Religion of piece again. Graphic would have been utilizing the horses to stomp, over and over and over. Maybe this recent fatwa had spurred him on.
http://english.alarabiya.net/articles/2013/02/03/264031.html
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G-WHIZ
Feb. 3, 2013 at 10:52amY’a mean…the cop could not just grab duh knife??
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RecknHavic
Feb. 3, 2013 at 10:28amWhat the heck is the woman in the background yellin and in what language?
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DougHuffman
Feb. 3, 2013 at 10:25amWhy? Just ignore it.
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IndyGuy
Feb. 3, 2013 at 10:22am“”as Shocked Tourists Watch”"…..I think it was the guy with the knife that was shocked….
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nocalifornia
Feb. 3, 2013 at 10:28amlol
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progressiveslayer
Feb. 3, 2013 at 10:21amLooks like another peaceful Muslim,they should’ve let him become a pez dispenser,I hate stories that end tragically.
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Chuck7884
Feb. 3, 2013 at 10:18amLucky the man did not cut his own throat while being tazed!.
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G-WHIZ
Feb. 3, 2013 at 10:54am“Don’t taze me bro!”
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