A 26-year-old man deliberately drove at a police van outside Buckingham Palace and repeatedly yelled Allahu Akbar while reaching for a 4ft sword.

Three unarmed cops were injured as they incapacitated the attacker with CS spray outside the royal residence on The Mall yesterday evening.

15 Police outside Buckingham Palace after a man 'armed with a machete' tried to storm the royal residence Credit: Getty Images - Getty

15 The Mall was cordoned off after the rampage, which has seen one man arrested on terror offences Credit: Getty Images - Getty

15 Reports on social media claimed the assailant was armed with a sword or machete Credit: Rex Features

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15 The roads around Buckingham Palace were cordoned off by police last night Credit: PA:Press Association

15 At least half a dozen police cars were at the palace Credit: Reuters

15 A man reportedly armed with a sword attacked two police officers Credit: Twitter/Leonardo Paoli

15 Images show a police cordon around the Palace Credit: Twitter/Leonardo Paoli

15 Police officers rushed to the scene Credit: Twitter/Nicole Kyle

A 26-year-old man from Luton has been arrested under the terrorism act following the rampage at the palace.

Police have said the attacker in a blue Toyota Prius "reached for a 4ft sword" in front of terrified tourists as three heroic unarmed cops rushed to tackle him.

At least six ambulances and police cars were seen rushing towards the London landmark as dozens of uniformed police pushed back tourists just after 8.30pm.

Two of the officers were taken by ambulance to hospital with minor cuts and discharged a short time later. The third officer did not require hospital treatment.

Police blocked off all entrances to the palace, which was not occupied by The Queen, who is in Scotland, last night.

Witness Emma Bell, 28, said of the terrorist: “There was blood all over his face and his shirt. I don’t know if the blood was his or from the police. I was scared.

15 Police outside Buckingham Palace today Credit: Reuters

15 The palace is open as usual today following yesterday's attack Credit: Reuters

"We didn’t know if there were other terrorists. An officer said calmly, ‘You need to get out of here.’”

Commander Dean Haydon, the head of the Met’s Counter Terrorism Command, said: “I would like to pay tribute to the bravery and professionalism of these officers who quickly brought this incident under control.

"Their vigilance, courage and the swiftness of their response demonstrates how our officers are protecting the public at this time.

“Officers from the Counter Terrorism Command are now investigating and searches are being carried out in the Luton area today.

“We believe the man was acting alone and we are not looking for other suspects at this stage.

"While we cannot speculate on what the man was intending to do - this will be determined during the course of the investigation - it is only right that we investigate this as a terrorist incident at this time.

“I would urge anybody who witnessed the incident or has any information or images that may assist the investigation to contact the confidential hotline on 0800 789 321.”

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15 Police forensics worker is seen working next to the Queen Victoria Memorial in front of the Palace

15 Police swarmed to the scene after the incident Credit: Reuters

The maniac is said to have been seen driving erratically before coming to a halt near a police car and lunging at officers with the blade.

An onlooker said: "He hit a bollard and got out with a machete."

Pictures on social media showed a police cordon surrounding the top of The Mall in central London with forensic teams working next to the Queen Victoria Memorial.

A witness said: “The officers wrestled a man from a car who looked like he was driving his vehicle towards them.

“The scuffle took place and he was dragged out the car brandishing a knife, which cut the police tying to detain him.”

ROYALS BLADES SCARES FRIDAY’S attack was the latest in a series of blade-related incidents at the palace in the past 14 months. In June last year, a former Grenadier guard was held there after being found carrying three lock knives. Two months later, a man was caught with a knife at the palace gates and was sectioned. And in May this year, a man was found with an 8in hunting knife saying he was on his way to see his “mum” the Queen.

Stuck outside Buckingham palace with many armed police officers. Heavy rifles on display traffic at a halt #buckinghampalace — Amir Jan Malik (@Amir_Jan_Malik) August 25, 2017

Kiana Williamson said: "We turned up and there was one police van and one car, there was also a civilian's car that had veered towards the police car.

"They were trying to get the man out of the car, shouting, more police were arriving on to the scene and the man was fighting back.

"I saw one injured policeman with an injury to his arm although it didn't look severe.

"He was being tended to by another officer.

"The man had been restrained and looked almost unconscious by the side of the road.

"I didn't see the car driving but the car had been left at the side of the road and an eye witness had said that he had driven towards the police car."

Being directed away from Buckingham Palace now as Police corden it off. No entry allowed in towards palace #buckinghampalace pic.twitter.com/dwlpRT3VJQ — Amir Jan Malik (@Amir_Jan_Malik) August 25, 2017

Amir Jan Malick posted: “Police with guns began encircling the Palace and directing cars away as more police cars were rushing towards the palace with sirens.”

Commander Haydon added: “This is a timely reminder that the threat from terrorism in the UK remains severe. The police, together with the security services, are doing everything we can to protect the public and we already have an enhanced policing plan over the Bank Holiday weekend to keep the public safe.

“We continue to urge the public to be alert but not alarmed and report anything suspicious to police confidentially on the hotline - 0800 789 321. In an emergency always call 999.”

15 A high police presence remains around the palace Credit: Getty Images - Getty

Buckingham Palace said it is "business as usual" today with tours set to go ahead despite the attack.

The Queen was not in the palace at the time of the incident as she is staying at her Scottish residence Balmoral.

Mayor of London Sadiq Khan said: "I'd like to thank the police officers at the scene for the heroic and professional way they responded to this incident - as we have seen on a number of occasions this year - and for ensuring that not a single member of the public was injured.

"My thoughts are with the officers who sustained minor injuries.

"As the police have said, this is a timely reminder that the threat from terrorism in the UK remains severe. The police, together with the security services, are doing everything they can to protect the public and they already have an enhanced policing plan over the Bank Holiday weekend to keep the public safe. "It is important we are all alert but not alarmed. Please report anything suspicious to police confidentially on the hotline - 0800 789 321. In an emergency always call 999. "Terrorists who seek to harm us and destroy our way of life will never succeed. London stands more united than ever." Theresa May later commented: I want to thank the officers who acted quickly and bravely to protect the public last night demonstrating the dedication and professionalism of our police."

Lib Dem leader Sir Vince Cable has issued a statement saying: "Thoughts and sympathies with brave officers injured tonight at Buckingham Palace in this unprovoked and cowardly attack."

The attack happened just one hour after a man was shot in the centre of Brussels after attacking two soldiers with a "machete".

The soldiers - who suffered injuries to their face and hand - opened fire on the attacker as the 30-year-old man, believed to be from Somalia, charged at them with a large bladed weapon.

Pictures showed police and medics battling to save the suspected terrorist's life before he was taken to hospital, where he later died.

Last week a terror cell launched an attack on Barcelona's iconic Las Ramblas street, and nearby seaside town Cambrils, leaving 14 people dead.

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