British police detain man with knife outside Buckingham Palace

British police arrested a man carrying a knife outside Buckingham Palace on Friday night, with two officers suffering minor injuries in the process.

The man was arrested on suspicion of grievous bodily harm and assault on police near the Queen's London residence.

Britain was hit by four militant attacks that killed 36 people earlier this year and the country's threat level is set at severe, meaning an attack is highly likely.

"The man was stopped this evening, Friday 25 August at approximately 20:35 hours by officers at the Mall outside Buckingham Palace in possession of knife," the police said.

"During the course of detaining him, two male police officers suffered minor injuries to their arm."

A large number of police vehicles could be seen on the road outside the palace.

Though Buckingham Palace is her home, the Queen usually spends August in Scotland at her Balmoral estate with family members.