Man Charged With Treason Over Windsor Castle Crossbow Incident
A man has been charged with treason after allegedly breaking into the grounds of Windsor Castle and threatening the Queen, the Met Police have confirmed.
Jaswant Singh Chail, 20, from Southampton, was arrested and found to be carrying a crossbow at the royal residence on Christmas Day.
At this time, the Queen would have been present while celebrating the festive holiday with her family.
According to AP, Scotland Yard said Chail has been charged under section 2 of the Treason Act 1842, which rules out 'discharging or aiming firearms, or throwing or using any offensive matter or weapon, with intent to injure or alarm Her Majesty'.
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As well as the treason offence, he also been charged with threats to kill and possession of an offensive weapon.
The 20-year-old is currently being kept in police custody and will appear at Westminster Magistrates’ Court on 17 August.
Nick Price, head of the CPS Special Crime and Counter Terrorism Division, said: “Mr Chail, 20, has been charged with making threats to kill, possession of an offensive weapon and an offence under the 1842 Treason Act.
“The Crown Prosecution Service reminds all concerned that criminal proceedings against Mr Chail are active and that he has the right to a fair trial."
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The UK's Treason Act was written out in 1351, and while it is still punishable today, cases are extremely rare.
Although amendments have been made over the centuries, some have questioned whether the act still needs updating.
As reported by the BBC, Justice Minister Simon Hughes was asked in 2014 whether treason charges were 'available for use by prosecuting authorities against UK citizens participating in jihad in the Middle East'.
At the time, he responded that the offence of treason was outdated and that modern counter-terrorism powers were sufficient.
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This week, the Queen sent a message to the England Women's team after they won the Euro 2022 championship.
"My warmest congratulations, and those of my family, go to you all on winning the European Women's Football Championships," Her Majesty wrote.
"It is a significant achievement for the entire team, including your support staff. The Championships and your performance in them have rightly won praise.
"However, your success goes far beyond the trophy you have so deservedly earned.
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"You have all set an example that will be an inspiration for girls and women today, and for future generations.
"It is my hope that you will be as proud of the impact you have had on your sport as you are of the result today."
Topics: UK News, Crime, The Queen, Royal Family
Daisy Phillipson