Man arrested with crossbow at Windsor Castle wanted to kill Queen

The queen was at the castle at the time of the incident on December 25, along with her son and heir Prince Charles, his wife Camilla and other close family.

Britain's Queen Elizabeth poses after awarding Captain Tom Moore with the insignia of Knight Bachelor at Windsor Castle, in Windsor, Britain July 17, 2020. (photo credit: REUTERS/CHRIS JACKSON)
Britain's Queen Elizabeth poses after awarding Captain Tom Moore with the insignia of Knight Bachelor at Windsor Castle, in Windsor, Britain July 17, 2020.
(photo credit: REUTERS/CHRIS JACKSON)

A man arrested with a crossbow at Queen Elizabeth's Windsor Castle home on Christmas Day last year said "I am here to kill the Queen," a British court was told on Wednesday.

Jaswant Singh Chail, 20, who has been charged under Britain's Treason Act, appeared on the grounds of Windsor Castle wearing a hood and a mask, the court was told. A police officer said he looked like someone from a vigilante movie.

The queen was at the castle at the time of the incident on December 25, along with her son and heir Prince Charles, his wife Camilla and other close family.

Following an investigation by counter-terrorism police, Chail was charged with making threats to kill, possession of an offensive weapon and an offense under section 2 of the Treason Act 1842.

Detailing Punishment

This section details punishment for "discharging or aiming fire-arms, or throwing or using any offensive matter or weapon, with intent to injure or alarm her Majesty."

 QUEEN ELIZABETH receives Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison during an audience in the Oak Room at Windsor Castle, last year. (credit: Steve Parsons/Reuters)
QUEEN ELIZABETH receives Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison during an audience in the Oak Room at Windsor Castle, last year. (credit: Steve Parsons/Reuters)

A hearing at London's Westminster Magistrates' Court was told Chail, from Southampton in southern England, said he wanted revenge on the establishment.