Met Police Charge Man Over Attempt To Grab Queen’s Coffin

For allegedly attempting to grab the Queen’s coffin amid reports of disturbance in Westminster Hall, a man has been charged by the Metropolitan police with a public order offence.

Muhammad Khan, 28, from east London, was charged on Saturday under the Public Order Act for “behaviour intending to cause alarm, harassment or distress”.

According to the Met Police, there were reports of a ‘disturbance’ on Friday night in Westminster Hall, where the Queen was lying in state, and that someone was seen running up the steps to the catafalque and touching the coffin.

The police were said to have rushed to detain a man just before 10 pm on Friday, the second full day on which mourners were able to pay their respects to the former monarch, just hours after senior royals held a vigil.

In a statement, the Met said a man had been charged with an offence under the Public Order Act.

At the time of the incident, broadcasters showing the procession of mourners cut away from the scene and instead showed the view from outside parliament.

Meanwhile, Khan is expected to appear in custody at Westminster magistrates court on Monday. – With The Guardian reports