Police in the Swiss capital evacuated Parliament and related offices on Tuesday after a man in a bulletproof vest was arrested near one of its entrances and found to be carrying explosives.
Bern police said in a statement that in the early afternoon, “federal security personnel noticed a man at the south entrance of the Parliament building whose appearance (he was wearing a bulletproof vest and a gun holster) and behavior suspicious “.
“During an ensuing body check, a rapid test returned explosives,” the statement said.
SWISS LEGISLATORS VISIT TAIWAN TO DEEPEN POLITICAL RELATIONS AMID CHINA TENSION
The statement did not provide any details about the explosives.
Police vehicles are parked in front of the Swiss Parliament after a man in a bulletproof vest was found near the building’s entrance with explosives. (Manuel Lopez/Keystone via AP)
The suspect, who was not identified, was undergoing physical and mental examinations, according to the statement. Federal prosecutors and police opened a criminal investigation. There was no immediate indication of a possible motive.
SWISS-ITALIAN WOMAN WITH LINKS TO ISLAMIC STATE SENTENCED FOR BRUTAL STABBING
Police cordoned off Federal Square outside the ornate Parliament Building and nearby streets for several hours as they dispatched security teams, including fire squads and mine clearance experts, backed by a police dog and drones, to inspect an abandoned car that had been associated with suspicion.
Security measures were lifted after the vehicle was found to be safe, according to the police statement.
CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP
Switzerland has rarely had confrontations with extremist violence, but federal police have regularly warned of the threat.
