Switzerland’s Parliament and related offices were evacuated by police after a man in a bulletproof vest was arrested near one of its entrances and found to be bearing explosives, reported a news agency ANI.
Employees of the Federal Security Service spotted a man at the southern gate of the Federal Palace early on Tuesday afternoon due to his suspicious attire. He seemed suspicious due to his clothing, as he was donning a bulletproof vest and a gun holster, among other things.
Berne Police released a statement later that the man who was stopped has been provisionally arrested and an investigation into his physical and medical conditions are underway. The statement said, "The man who was stopped, who, according to current knowledge, drove to the Bundesplatz by car and went from there to the Bundeshaus, is being provisionally arrested. Medical investigations into his physical and mental condition are in progress."
During a subsequent personal check, a rapid test revealed the presence of explosives. A car linked to the man was parked on the Bundesplatz, opposite the parliament building, leading to police being called to the scene, reported ANI.
According to the information that was known at the time, the possibility of explosives being inside the car on the Bundesplatz could not be ruled out. Hence the vehicle posed some risk. As a result, stringent security measures were put in place right away. The Bundesplatz and several of the other streets were totally blocked off. Several buildings, including the Parliament building and other parts of the Federal Palace, were evacuated.
The statement further read, "Several services of the Bern canton police, including specialists from the fire and explosion department, were called in - especially to examine the car. Drones and a service dog were also used as part of the police work. The investigations finally revealed that the car posed no danger. All measures were lifted around 7 p.m."
A criminal investigation against the man has been launched by the Swiss Office of the Attorney General, together with police in Bern, Valais and the Swiss Federal Police.
(With inputs from ANI)