Armed police rush to arrest two men at Saudi London residence

May 1, 2021 Ava

The Saudi Ambassador’s official London residence was targeted by arsonists today who set fire to the front of the multi-million pound building before police arrested two men after a struggle.

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A witness told MailOnline two middle-aged men who had been ‘loitering around’ the property on Kensington Palace Gardens approached it at around 1.40pm before one threw an object over the gate, setting alight to several bushes.

A security guard then rushed out to confront the men and was punched in the face and left with an injured eye. Police rushed to the scene and were seen handcuffing two men before loading them into a van.

One fire engine arrived and put out the blaze after 10 minutes.

The Met said one man was arrested for arson and a second for assault. A third man who was standing nearby was found to be in possession of Class A drugs and arrested. It is not clear if he was involved in the attack on the building.

No one was seriously injured and police have ruled out terror. It is unclear if the ambassador, Khalid bin Bandar bin Sultan Al Saud, was in the house at the time.

The incident unfolded just yards away from Kensington Palace, the home of the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge.

Kensington Palace Gardens is one of the most expensive streets of London, lined with multi-million pound houses and the embassies of countries including Russia, Lebanon and Nepal.

The Met told MailOnline: ‘Police were called at 1.38pm to a fire in the garden of Saudi Arabian diplomatic premises in Kensington Palace Gardens, W2.

‘Officers attended the location. A man was arrested at the scene on suspicion of arson.

‘A security guard was assaulted by another man whom officers arrested on suspicion of assault (ABH).

‘The male security guard was given first aid at the scene by police; he is not thought to have been seriously injured.

‘A third man was arrested near to the location on suspicion of possessing Class A drugs. All three men remain in custody at a central London police station.’

The London Fire Brigade told MailOnline: ‘We were called to bushes alight at 1.41pm. It was under control by 1.50pm.

‘One fire engine attended and there were no reported injuries.’

Source: Thanks msn.com