A man has reportedly doused himself in petrol outside of Parliament earlier this morning.
The unnamed man was apprehended close to Parliament’s Carriage Gates after he was seen pouring a liquid on himself and holding a lighter, witnesses report. Fire crews were called to the scene at around 10:45 this morning over fears that the liquid was gasoline.
Huw Merriman, the Conservative MP for Bexhill and Battle, who witnessed the incident, tweeted his praise for the police.
He wrote: “Man next to me at Parliament’s carriage gates appears to have poured (what smells like) petrol on himself. Incredibly brave response from police, who are now helping him.”
There was a large ‘We Voted to Leave” poster behind the man, although it is as of yet unclear whether there is any correlation between the incident and Brexit.
The incident is as of now being treated as a mental health issue rather than as a political protest.
A spokesman for Scotland Yard said: “A man was detained in Parliament Square, Westminster at approximately 10.45am today after dousing himself with what appeared to be a flammable liquid. No injuries. London Ambulance Service are on scene and he is currently being assessed.”
When asked if the incident was being treated as a political protest, a police officer at the scene said: “No. He was unhappy about a parking ticket in Essex.”
When describing police response at the incident the officer also said: “He poured petrol on himself. One of the lads rugby tackled him.”
Picture: metro.co.uk
