A man was arrested outside Buckingham Palace on Tuesday evening after police say he threw what they believe to be shotgun cartridges into the palace grounds.
King Charles and Queen Camilla were not at Buckingham Palace at the time of the incident, the palace tells PEOPLE.
The man, who has not been identified, was arrested by Metropolitan Police around 7 p.m. Authorities used a “controlled explosion” to eliminate what they say was a “suspicious bag” found in the man’s possession, according to a news release.
In the release, authorities said they “quickly” detained the man “after he approached the gates of Buckingham Palace and threw a number of items – suspected to be shotgun cartridges – into the Palace grounds.”
“These have been recovered and will be taken for specialist examination,” the release reads. “The man has been arrested on suspicion of possession of an offensive weapon.”
Chief Superintendent Joseph McDonald said in the release that “there have been no reports of any shots fired, or any injuries to officers or members of the public.”
After his arrest, police say the area was cordoned off by authorities, and that they used the controlled explosion “as a precaution.”
The incident comes four days ahead of King Charles’ coronation at Westminster Abbey on Saturday.
Buckingham Palace had no further comment.
