A suspect charged over an incident that caused ‘disturbance’ in Westminster Hall has been named as Muhammed Khan.
On Friday night in Westminster Hall, where the Queen was lying in state, a man was seen running up the steps to the catafalque and touching the coffin.
Just before 10 p.m. on Friday, the second full day for mourners to pay their respects to the former monarch, police were said to have rushed to detain a man, just hours after senior royals held a vigil.
At the time of the incident, broadcasters cut away from the procession of mourners and instead showed the view from outside parliament.
“On Saturday, September 17, Muhammad Khan, 28, of Barleycorn Way, Tower Hamlets, was charged with an offence under Section 4A of the Public Order Act; behaviour intended to cause alarm, harassment, or distress,” the Metropolitan Police confirmed.
“He will appear in custody at Westminster Magistrates’ Court.”
Khan was accused of shoving a seven-year-old girl during the incident, but he does not appear to be facing charges for common assault at this time, and the Metropolitan Police declined to comment.
As of now, the case is subject to British reporting restrictions in terms of commentary and speculation.