Terror attack fears force iconic London palace guards behind metal fences

The soldiers who stand guard outside Britain’s royal palaces have been moved behind metal fences because of fears of a terror attack. The Royal Guards, a popular and iconic tourist attraction outside royal residences because of their ceremonial uniforms, have been separated from the public, with armed police providing additional protection. The Telegraph reports Buckingham Palace and the police feared that militant Islamists could see the Royal Guards as high-profile targets.

Unfortunately this is a sign of the times and how unpredictable the current situation is. We’ve seen horrific incidents across the world and in our capital city, so some action had to be taken to reduce the risk, even if it can never be eliminated.

Former Welsh guardsman Terry O’Shea

Although the guards carry weapons fitted with bayonets the guns are not loaded. The Metropolitan Police and Ministry of Defence declined to comment on the reports. Britain raised its terrorism alert to the second-highest level in August and last month said it was facing the biggest terrorism threat in its history because of radicalised Britons returning from fighting in Syria and Iraq.

World royal guards