According to the Evening Standard, a man was arrested after he “ran up” to Queen Elizabeth II’s casket at Westminster Hall in London.
According to a statement from Scotland Yard, the “disturbance” occurred at 10 p.m. on Friday night.
According to the Evening Standard, the live stream showing mourners inside Westminster Hall for the Queen’s lying-in-state was cut for a brief period. Instead, broadcasters showed the scene outside of Parliament, where mourners have waited up to twenty-four hours to pay their respects.
The Sun stated that witnesses described the distressing scene as “very upsetting.” Reports indicate that he seized the Royal Standard flag hanging over the coffin. “Such disregard for the body. Just not what you ever imagined seeing,” a witness told The Sun.
According to the Evening Standard, photographs of the incident depict several police officers grappling the man to the ground within seconds after the assault occurred.
A spokesperson for the Parliament informed BBC News, “We are aware of an incident in Westminster Hall in which a member of the public moved from the queue towards the coffin.
They have been removed from the lobby, and the line has resumed with minimal disturbance.
The closed coffin of the Queen rests on a high platform called a catafalque in Westminster Hall in the Palace of Westminster. The golden Imperial State Crown stands atop. The public is expected to file past the catafalque in order to offer their respects, per UK Government guidelines.
A source informed The Guardian that the man was apprehended after escaping the queue, climbing some stairs, and touching the casket.
He was arrested and detained under the Public Order Act, according to the police and BBC News.
In relation to the Queen’s lying-in-state, a man appeared at Westminster Magistrates’ Court on Friday charged with two charges of sexual assault and two counts of breaking a sexual harm prevention order.
According to BBC News, the 19-year-old allegedly sexually attacked his victims as they stood in line to pay their respects.