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British police foil plot to kill Theresa May, reports say

Metropolitan Police arrest two suspects, Naa’imur Zakariyah Rahman and Mohammed Aqib Imran, on terrorism related charges
Plot to assassinate Theresa May has been foiled, according to UK reports (AFP)

A plot has been foiled to assassinate the British prime minister, Theresa May, British media said on Wednesday.

Police believe that the plan was to detonate an improvised explosive device at the May's residence at Downing Street and in the ensuing chaos to attack and kill her with knives, Sky News reported.

Sky added that this was something that had been pursued over several weeks at least by Scotland Yard, MI5 and West Midlands Police.

The Metropolitan Police, meanwhile, said Naa’imur Zakariyah Rahman, 20, and Mohammed Aqib Imran, 21, were charged with "preparing a terrorist act" on Tuesday.

They were due to face Westminster Magistrates' Court on Wednesday morning.

Scotland Yard has not yet confirmed whether Rahman and Imran were part of the plot to kill May.

Earlier on Tuesday, May's spokesman said that Britain had thwarted nine plots in the last 12 months.

Downing Street has become heavily fortified since the Irish Republican Army (IRA) attempted to kill the former prime minister, Margaret Thatcher, in 1984.

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