A man arrested by armed police in Whitehall has appeared in court charged with preparing terrorist acts.
Pleas of not guilty were entered for Khalid Mohammed Omar Ali, 27, of north London, when he appeared at Westminster magistrates court.
Ali faces a total of three counts: one of preparing terrorist acts, and two alleged explosives offences related to Afghanistan five years ago.
He appeared in court wearing a grey sweatshirt and tracksuit bottoms, flanked by security staff. Asked to plead guilty or not guilty, Ali replied: “I don’t recognise the charges to plead guilty or not guilty.”
A major alert was sparked on 27 April after a man was wrestled to the ground and arrested by armed officers metres from the Houses of Parliament and Downing Street. Since then counter-terrorism detectives have been investigating why he was in the Whitehall area.
Ali is alleged to have had three knives on his person, including one down his trousers.
The other charges relate to improvised explosive devices used in Afghanistan in 2012.
Ali, who was not legally represented in court, was remanded in custody until 19 May.
