Security alert at UK parliament after powder thrown

LONDON, June 7 (Reuters) The British parliament was briefly sealed off in a security alert today after a man threw powder in a public area of the building, police said.

''A man spread an unidentified substance in the central lobby. He has been detained at the scene while inquiries continue,'' police said in a statement.

Doors to the historic building were briefly sealed while police investigated, but the alert was called off within an hour after police decided the substance was harmless.

One police officer said there had been fears the powder was anthrax but a member of parliament said later he had heard it was flour.

''Somebody we think had a grievance threw some powder in the central lobby. No one is allowed in or out while we check this,'' a uniformed police officer on duty at parliament told Reuters during the security alert.

REUTERS SI BST2354