Man handcuffs himself to Buckingham Palace gates sparking police alert as tourists cleared from area

A MAN has handcuffed himself to the gates of Buckingham Palace - triggering an urgent police response.

Visitors were told to leave the area shortly after 5.23pm as a man, in a white t-shirt and cap, chained his left hand to the entrance facing The Victoria Memorial.

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Video shared on social media shows officers - in the area when the incident began - trying to talk to the man as he gestures at them.

It is unclear what he is saying but there appears to be white pages on the ground in front of him.

Several police officers can be seen dealing with the incident while a number of armed cops stand on the other side of the fence.

The Metropolitan Police say they are continuing to negotiate with the individual.