A police officer stands at a cordon after police arrested a man carrying a knife outside Buckingham Palace in London, Britain, August 25, 2017. REUTERS/Hannah McKay

LONDON: British police said they had arrested a man carrying a knife outside Buckingham Palace on Friday night, with two officers suffering minor injuries in the process.

The man was arrested on suspicion of grievous bodily harm and assault on police near to Queen Elizabeth?s London residence.

Britain was hit by four militant attacks that killed 36 people earlier this year and the country?s threat level is set at severe, meaning an attack is highly likely.

?The man was stopped this evening, Friday, 25 August, at approximately 20:35 hours by officers at the Mall outside Buckingham Palace in possession of knife,? the police said, adding that "two male police officers suffered minor injuries to their arm? as they tried to detain him.

Security officials are now at the scene for further investigation, according to a statement issued by the Metropolitan Police.