A man who was "on a counter-terror watchlist" has been arrested after wielding a knife outside a top private school.
The suspect had been reported to the police after being spotted with a blade near Godstowe School in High Wycombe, one of the country's leading preparatory schools.
Thames Valley Police had first been alerted to the man as children were arriving at school at 8.10am, who challenged the suspect on arrival.
After attempting to flee, officers managed to detain and disarm the man after threatening him with tasers.
The suspect had been reported to the police after being spotted with a blade near Godstowe School in High Wycombe (pictured)
|The suspect has since been arrested on suspicion of carrying a knife in a public place.
It is understood that the man had previously appeared on an MI5 watchlist after showing interest in Islamic extremism, however it is not known if he remained on the authorities' radar up until his arrest.
The suspect from High Wycombe is believed to have had a previous conviction relating to child sex offences, The Telegraph reported.
Thames Valley Police has not confirmed whether the ordeal was a foiled terror plot, but said it would be ramping up patrols around the area in the coming days.
The force has also launched an appeal to the public for witnesses and anyone who may have recorded the incident to come forward.
A spokesman for Thames Valley Police said: “We are investigating after a man had a knife in public this morning.
“We were called at around 8.10am about a man with a knife in Shrubbery Road.
“Our officers swiftly attended and arrested a 49-year-old man from High Wycombe on suspicion of being in possession of a knife in public. He remains in our custody.
PICTURED: An aerial view of High Wycombe. The force has launched an appeal to the public for witnesses and anyone who may have recorded the incident to come forward
|GETTY
“No one was harmed and there is no ongoing threat to the wider public.
“We will have extra police presence in the area so anyone with concerns is encouraged to speak to a uniformed officer.
“We are appealing for any witnesses or anyone with information to get in touch.
"There were numerous people around at the time, many of whom may have recorded it on their phones, so please call 101 or make a report on our website, rather than publishing recordings on social media.”
Godstowe School is one of Britain's most prestigious prep schools, catering for girls aged three to 13, along with boys from three to seven.
The Buckinghamshire school boasts notable alumni such as the daughter of Prince and Princess Michael of Kent, Lady Gabriella Kingston, and pop singer Sarah Harding.
High Wycombe as a town has wrestled with Islamic extremism over the past two decades.
Resident and former grammar school pupil Shabazz Suleman was sentenced to nine-and-a-half years in prison in 2023 for travelling to Syria to join Isis when he was 19 years old.