Man arrested at Tower Hamlets Council over alleged threat to kill

A man was arrested at last night’s meeting of Tower Hamlets Council in east London following an incident when two councillors had to be physically separated.

The incident came during a heated debate behind closed doors after press and public had been excluded to discuss the appointment of a chief executive to the vacant post.

An emergency resolution was also being discussed when the row broke out in Bengali between two councillors, one of them a woman. The row then spilled out into the corridor.

Security officers then cleared the lobby outside the council chamber and ordered waiting journalists down to the ground-floor reception area.

Scotland Yard confirmed this morning that police had been called to the Town Hall.

A spokesman told the Advertiser: “Police have arrested a man of 45 on suspicion of making threats to kill. He has been detained while inquiries continue.”

The man arrested at 11.35pm is believed to be a Labour councillor.