Windsor Castle intruder charged with intending to harm the Queen

A 20-year-old man arrested with a crossbow in the grounds of Windsor Castle on Christmas Day has been charged with offenses under the Treason Act, prosecutors said.

Jaswant Singh Chail, 20, has been charged with wanting to offend or alarm the Queen under the Treason Act 1982 by making death threats and possessing an assault weapon.

He was charged following an inquiry carried out by Scotland Yard’s Counter-Terrorism Squad.

Nick Price, CPS Chief of Special Crimes and Counter-Terrorism, said: “The CPS has authorized the Metropolitan Police to charge Jaswat Singh Chail with criminal offenses after he was arrested in the grounds of Windsor Castle on 25 December 2021 with a crossbow .

“This decision was made following an investigation conducted by the Met’s Counter Terrorism Command.

“Mr Chail, 20, has been charged with making death threats, possession of an assault weapon and an offense under the Treason Act 1842.

“Prosecutors are reminding all involved that criminal proceedings are ongoing against Mr. Chail and that he has the right to a fair trial.”

He will next appear before Westminster Magistrates’ Court on August 17.

The last person to be convicted under the law was Marcus Sarjaent in 1981, who was sentenced to five years in prison after pleading guilty to blank shots at the Queen during the Trooping of the Color.