Man 'tried to smuggle knife into Parliament' for meeting with top Labour politicians

The man claimed to be a diplomat when he was stopped by security officers, a court was told

 

 

Accused: Peter Herod has to prove he had had diplomatic immunity the judge said at Southwark Crown Court

Security officers caught a man armed with a two-inch knife trying to enter the Houses of Parliament, a court heard.
Peter Herod, 61, was heading for a meeting with Labour MP Hazel Blears and Baroness Scotland when he was stopped and searched.
He was caught with the lock-knife, a court heard.
When security officers stopped him, he claimed he had diplomatic immunity, it is alleged.
 

Caught: It is believed Peter Herod was heading for a meeting with Baroness Scotland when he was stopped by security

He then pulled out what he said was a diplomatic identification card from an organisation called the Office of International Treasury Control.
It is understood the man was trying to get to the UK launch of the Brussels declaration pledge to peace, held at the Palace of Westminster on June 17 last year.
Wearing a grey suit and an orange patterned tie at London's Southwark Crown Court, Herod denied having an article with a blade or point.
Herod, of Burr Street in Didcot, Oxfordshire, also denied possessing an article for use in fraud.
 

Meeting: Labour MP Hazel Blears was in a meeting with Baroness Scotland and it is claimed Peter Herod was heading for their room

Herod, who represented himself, claimed he would need to fly in officials from the UN for his trial.
His case was adjourned for the prosecution to check with government officials if Herod had diplomatic immunity.
Judge Alistair McCreath said: "They have a list of people who have diplomatic immunity.
"If you are not on it, end of."
The case was adjourned until April 9 at Southwark Crown Court.
 

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