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Queen's Speech 2021

Her Majesty’s most gracious speech to both Houses of Parliament.

My lords and members of the House of Commons.

My Government’s priority is to deliver a national recovery from the pandemic that makes the United Kingdom stronger, healthier and more prosperous than before.

To achieve this, my Government will level up opportunities across all parts of the United Kingdom, supporting jobs, businesses and economic growth and addressing the impact of the pandemic on public services.

My Government will protect the health of the nation, continuing the vaccination programme and providing additional funding to support the NHS. My Ministers will bring forward legislation to empower the NHS to innovate and embrace technology. Patients will receive more tailored and preventative care, closer to home [Health and Care Bill]. Measures will be brought forward to support the health and wellbeing of the nation, including to tackle obesity and improve mental health. Proposals on social care reform will be brought forward.

My Government will build on the success of the vaccination programme to lead the world in life sciences, pioneering new treatments against diseases like cancer and securing jobs and investment across the country.

My Ministers will oversee the fastest ever increase in public funding for research and development and pass legislation to establish an advanced research agency [Advanced Research and Invention Agency Bill].

Following the unprecedented support provided to businesses during the pandemic, proposals will be brought forward to create and support jobs and improve regulation.

My Government will strengthen the economic ties across the union, investing in and improving national infrastructure. Proposals will be taken forward to transform connectivity by rail and bus [High Speed Rail (Crewe – Manchester) Bill] and to extend 5G mobile coverage and gigabit capable broadband [Product Security and Telecommunications Infrastructure Bill].

Legislation will support a lifetime skills guarantee to enable flexible access to high quality education and training throughout people’s lives [Skills and Post-16 Education Bill].

Measures will be introduced to ensure that support for businesses reflects the United Kingdom’s strategic interests and drives economic growth [Subsidy Control Bill]. Laws will simplify procurement in the public sector [Procurement Bill]. Eight new Freeports will create hubs for trade and help regenerate communities [National Insurance Contributions Bill].

My Government will ensure that the public finances are returned to a sustainable path once the economic recovery is secure.

Measures will be brought forward to ensure that children have the best start in life, prioritising their early years. My Ministers will address lost learning during the pandemic and ensure every child has a high quality education and is able to fulfil their potential.

My Government will help more people to own their own home whilst enhancing the rights of those who rent. Laws to modernise the planning system, so that more homes can be built, will be brought forward, along with measures to end the practice of ground rents for new leasehold properties [Planning Bill, Leasehold Reform (Ground Rent) Bill]. My Ministers will establish in law a new Building Safety Regulator to ensure that the tragedies of the past are never repeated [Building Safety Bill].

Measures will be brought forward to address racial and ethnic disparities and ban conversion therapy.

Legislation will support the voluntary sector by reducing unnecessary bureaucracy and releasing additional funds for good causes [Dormant Assets Bill, Charities Bill].

My Government will invest in new green industries to create jobs, while protecting the environment. The United Kingdom is committed to achieving net zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2050 and will continue to lead the way internationally by hosting the COP26 Summit in Glasgow. Legislation will set binding environmental targets [Environment Bill]. Legislation will also be brought forward to ensure the United Kingdom has, and promotes, the highest standards of animal welfare [Animal Welfare (Sentience) Bill, Kept Animals Bill, Animals Abroad Bill].

My Government will strengthen and renew democracy and the constitution. Legislation will be introduced to ensure the integrity of elections, protect freedom of speech and restore the balance of power between the executive, legislature and the courts [Electoral Integrity Bill, Higher Education (Freedom of Speech) Bill, Judicial Review Bill, Dissolution and Calling of Parliament Bill]. My Ministers will promote the strength and integrity of the union. Measures will be brought forward to strengthen devolved Government in Northern Ireland and address the legacy of the past [Northern Ireland (Ministers, Elections and Petitions of Concerns) Bill, Legacy Legislation].

My Government will introduce measures to increase the safety and security of its citizens.

Legislation will increase sentences for the most serious and violent offenders and ensure the timely administration of justice [Police, Crime, Sentencing and Courts Bill]. Proposals will be brought forward to address violence, including against women and girls, and to support victims [Draft Victims Bill]. Measures will be brought forward to establish a fairer immigration system that strengthens the United Kingdom’s borders and deters criminals who facilitate dangerous and illegal journeys [New Plan for Immigration Legislation].

My Government will lead the way in ensuring internet safety for all, especially for children [Draft Online Safety Bill] whilst harnessing the benefits of a free, open and secure internet.

My Ministers will provide our gallant Armed Services with the biggest spending increase in thirty years, taking forward their programme of modernisation and reinforcing the United Kingdom’s commitment to NATO. My Ministers will honour and strengthen the Armed Forces Covenant, placing it in law [Armed Forces Bill]. Measures will be introduced to provide National Insurance contribution relief for employers of veterans [National Insurance Contributions Bill].

Legislation will be introduced to counter hostile activity by foreign states [Counter-State Threats Bill, Telecommunications (Security) Bill]. My Ministers will implement the Integrated Review of Security, Defence, Development and Foreign Policy.

The United Kingdom will host the G7 Summit and lead the global effort to secure a robust economic recovery from the pandemic. My Ministers will deepen trade ties in the Gulf, Africa and the Indo-Pacific.

My Government will continue to provide aid where it has the greatest impact on reducing poverty and alleviating human suffering. My Government will uphold human rights and democracy across the world. It will take forward a global effort to get 40 million girls across the world into school.

Members of the House of Commons.

Estimates for the public services will be laid before you.

Other measures will be laid before you.

I pray that the blessing of Almighty God may rest upon your counsels.

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In full: The Queen's Speech read by Prince Charles

The address, which outlines the government's legislative agenda for the year ahead, focused heavily on the economy as the PM aims to get the country "back on track" after the COVID pandemic while simultaneously addressing growing cost of living challenges.

Tuesday 10 May 2022 12:08, UK

• Prince Charles

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Queen's speech LIVE: Updates as Prince of Wales delivers speech in Parliament

The Prince of Wales read the Queen’s Speech for the first time as the monarch misses the State Opening of Parliament for the first time in almost 60 years

• Updated 17:35, 10 MAY 2022

The Queen’s Speech will contain new measures to “dynamise” the UK to ensure people can pay the bills, a Government minister has said.

But while policing minister Kit Malthouse acknowledged Government “alarm” at predictions of soaring inflation, he downplayed hopes of rapid help being announced on Tuesday.

The Prince of Wales read the Queen’s Speech for the first time as the monarch misses the State Opening of Parliament for the first time in almost 60 years.

The Queen, 96, pulled out of the ceremonial occasion – when she reads out the Government’s legislative programme for the forthcoming parliamentary session – as she continued to experience “episodic mobility problems”.

Keep up to date with the latest below

• Prince of Wales: Legislation will reform the planning system 11:42
• Promise reforms for England’s schools and higher education 11:40
• 'Government will level up opportunity in all parts of the country' 11:38
• The Regalia were transported to the Palace of Westminster 11:01
• Queen to be watching proceedings on TV from Windsor Castle 10:58

Commons Leader says govt. taking “two-pronged” approach to cost-of-living crisis

Commons Leader Mark Spencer said the Government was taking a “two-pronged” approach to tackling the cost-of-living crisis.

“There are lots of things looking forward about growing the economy, about growing the Brexit dividend or doing trade deals around the world,” he told BBC Radio 4’s PM programme when asked what ministers were doing to alleviate the problem at the moment.

“I think we need to continue to grow the economy rapidly.

“We need to continue to invest in our businesses, to give tax breaks which the Chancellor has set out, and that is the two-pronged attack.

“There are also, I acknowledge, people who are still under enormous challenge and that’s why we have arms of support to help people through this terrible challenge.”

Sinn Fein responds to Queen's speech

Sinn Fein vice president Michelle O’Neill has said a new approach set out on Troubles prosecutions in the Queen’s Speech is not the way to deal with the past in Northern Ireland.

A proposed new bill could mean that an amnesty from historic prosecutions could be conditional upon co-operation with truth recovery investigations.

Ms O’Neill said: “We must deal with the past so we don’t burden today’s generation with that, we must deal with the past to give people the closure they need, and I am very certain the way to do that is not to give impunity and immunity to British serving forces here.

“I am very certain we need a proper way to deal with the past that gives people what they need and the British Government approach I am quite sure will not reflect what is needed here.”

Ms O’Neill was also sceptical about plans to legislate for the Irish language announced in the Queen’s Speech.

She said: “I have never trusted Boris Johnson, I don’t trust the Tories, but what I will do is hold their feet to the fire on political commitments that they have made. They have shown time and time again that they renege on political commitments, so I will wait until I see the ink on the paper in terms of the language and cultural bills.”

“It’s a big moment in royal history”

Joe Little of Majesty magazine said of the Prince of Wales: “It must have been a hugely significant moment for him.

“It was rather telling the way that as the Imperial State Crown was placed on the table at the side of him, he looked at it for several seconds.

“You kind of wondered at the time what was going through his mind.

“As people have been saying today, we’re looking at the future.

“It was a duty that he would rather not have had to fulfil but nevertheless that’s what he and William were there for as Counsellors of State.

“It’s a big moment in royal history.”

Irish deputy premier responds to Queen's speech

The Irish deputy premier has welcomed the announcement from the UK Government that immunity for Troubles-related crime will depend on individuals co-operating with an information retrieval body.

As outlined in the Queen’s Speech, the Northern Ireland Troubles (Legacy and Reconciliation) Bill appears to have been tweaked in response to the almost universal opposition to the original proposals.

“I think it’s good news that they’ve abandoned plans for a blanket amnesty for British soldiers and terrorists who may have been involved in crimes in Northern Ireland and elsewhere,” Tanaiste Leo Varadkar told RTE radio.

“These are new proposals. I think it’s very important that the British government should now engage with us and, in particular, engage with the parties in Northern Ireland and the victims’ groups.”

In full: Prince Charles delivers the Queen's Speech

Watch the full Queen's speech delivered by Prince Charles

What is in the Queen's Speech for the North East? All the new laws explained

Boris Johnson has unveiled dozens of new laws in the Queen's Speech in a bid to relaunch his beleaguered premiership.

The speech, which marks the state opening of Parliament, features 38 pieces of legislation and is designed to reset the Government and convince Tory MPs that the Prime Minister is on the right track.

After a local elections bloodbath, in which the Tories lost control of symbolic councils in the South and more than 400 seats across the country, Mr Johnson will be hoping for a bounce in the polls after outlining a series of measures on levelling up and the cost of living crisis.

In the Queen’s absence, Prince Charles delivered the speech to the House of Lords for the first time.

'Are we adjourned?'

Boris Johnson could be heard asking “are we adjourned?” as MPs returned to the House of Commons after the Queen’s Speech.

The Prime Minister exited the chamber immediately and could be heard mentioning lunch, while other MPs spent time mingling in the Commons.

The Commons will resume at 2.30pm to debate the speech.

The speech itself lasted nine minutes – starting at 11.34am and ending at 11.43am.

Measures to improve regulation of social housing

The Queen’s Speech also contained measures to improve the regulation of social housing.

A ban on conversion therapy and a promise to establish an independent regulator for English football were also commitments made in the speech, delivered in Parliament by the Prince of Wales.

The Queen's speech has finished

The Queen's Speech has now finished.

MPs will now debate the speech in the House of Commons.

It's understood the debate will start at 2pm.

Measures to address the legacy of the Troubles in Northern Ireland

The Prince of Wales said the Government would take action to prevent “dangerous and illegal Channel crossings” and tackle the criminal gangs who profit from the journeys.

The Government will “lead the way in championing security around the world”, working with Nato and addressing the “most pressing global security challenges”.

At home, the “continued success and integrity of the whole of the United Kingdom is of paramount importance”, including the internal economic ties between its parts – an apparent reference to the Government’s plans to reform the Northern Ireland Protocol.

The Queen’s Speech, delivered by Charles, also promised measures to address the legacy of the Troubles in Northern Ireland.

Laws to be reintroduced to implement free trade agreements

The Government “will continue to seize the opportunities of the United Kingdom’s departure from the European Union, to support economic growth”, the Prince of Wales told Parliament.

The data protection regime will be reformed and the financial services industry will be strengthened, Charles said.

Laws would also be introduced to implement the UK’s first free trade agreements since Brexit, he added.

Prince of Wales: Legislation will reform the planning system

The Prince of Wales said legislation will reform the planning system to give residents more involvement in local development.

Charles added: “A Bill will be brought forward to drive local growth, empowering local leaders to regenerate their areas, and ensuring everyone can share in the United Kingdom’s success.”

Legislation in the form of a Transport Bill will be introduced to “modernise rail services and improve reliability for passengers”, the Prince of Wales said.

New laws will “deliver the transition to cheaper, cleaner, and more secure energy”, building on the success of the Cop26 climate summit.

Promise reforms for England’s schools and higher education

The Queen’s Speech promised reforms for England’s schools and higher education.

The Prince of Wales said: “Reforms to education will help every child fulfil their potential wherever they live, raising standards and improving the quality of schools and higher education.”

'Government will level up opportunity in all parts of the country'

The Prince of Wales said the Government’s priority is to “grow and strengthen the economy and help ease the cost of living for families”.

“My Government will level up opportunity in all parts of the country and support more people into work,” he said.

Delivering the Queen’s Speech he promised that in the “challenging times” the Government would continue to support the people of Ukraine.

Standing in for the Queen, Charles told Parliament: “Her Majesty’s Government will drive economic growth to improve living standards and fund sustainable investment in public services.

“This will be underpinned by a responsible approach to the public finances, reducing debt while reforming and cutting taxes.

“Her Majesty’s ministers will support the Bank of England to return inflation to its target.”

Prince of Wales begins speaking

The Prince of Wales said the Government’s priority is to “strengthen the economy and help ease the cost of living” as he delivered the Queen’s Speech in place of the 96-year-old monarch.

House of Commons is summoned

Black Rod Sarah Clarke arrived and knocked on the door three times to request MPs attend the House of Lords.

Speaker Sir Lindsay Hoyle led the procession of MPs and was followed by Prime Minister Boris Johnson and Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer walking side by side.

A long line of MPs followed, including Conservative former prime minister Theresa May. Around 15 MPs stayed behind in the Commons chamber.

The procession has started

The Queen would have led a procession through the Royal Gallery but now the royal trio follows the route to the Chamber of the House of Lords.

The Sovereign’s Procession is led by senior parliamentary and government officers, including the Lord Chancellor, the Lord Speaker of the House of Lords and the Lord Privy Seal.

What is the significance of the Regalia?

The Regalia – the Imperial State Crown, the Cap of Maintenance and Sword of State – were transported to the Palace of Westminster in three state limousines ahead of the Queen’s speech.

The Imperial State Crown is mostly seen during state openings of Parliament or coronations. The Great Sword of State and the Cap of Maintenance are symbols of the Sovereign’s power and authority.

Prince of Wales arrives

The Prince of Wales and Duchess of Cornwall have arrived at the Palace of Westminster for the historic moment when Charles will read the Queen’s Speech.

Two mounted divisions of the Household Cavalry formed two rows at Horse Guards Parade creating a “secure passage” the royal party’s limousine travelled through on its way to parliament.

They, along with Prince William, are making their way to the Robing Room.

Duke of Cambridge arrives at the Palace of Westminster

The Duke of Cambridge has travelled separately to the Palace of Westminster ahead of the Prince of Wales and Duchess of Cornwall.

He was led through the Palace of Westminster pausing at moments to greet dignitaries.

State Crown arrives at the Palace of Westminster

The Imperial State Crown is carried through the Norman Porch for the State Opening of Parliament in the House of Lords at the Palace of Westminster in London.

Charles to read Queen’s Speech in historic development

The Prince of Wales and Duke of Cambridge will open Parliament on the Queen’s behalf in a historic, unprecedented move which will see Charles read the Queen’s Speech.

The monarch, 96, reluctantly pulled out of the major ceremonial occasion – nearly 60 years after she last missed it – following advice from her royal doctors as she continues to experience “episodic mobility problems”.

As Charles, 73, takes on the head of state’s major constitutional duty for the first time, the move will be interpreted as a symbolic and significant shift in his responsibilities as a future monarch.

It will be William’s first state opening – and the royal function of opening a new parliament has been delegated to both Charles and William by the Queen.

The Duchess of Cornwall, a future Queen Consort, will also accompany Charles, but the Queen’s main throne will remain empty in the House of Lords.

The decision was taken on Monday, and the Queen’s mobility issues are said to be a continuation of the problems she has suffered since the autumn.

The Regalia were transported to the Palace of Westminster

In past years the symbolic items would have travelled in a carriage but this year vehicles are being used and a state limousine will also carry the royal party later.

Queen to be watching proceedings on TV from Windsor Castle

The Queen is understood to be watching the proceedings on television from Windsor Castle.

She will have her weekly phone audience with Prime Minister Boris Johnson on Wednesday.

Policing minister: Queen’s Speech will contain 'assertive new measures'

Policing minister Kit Malthouse said the Queen’s Speech will contain “assertive new measures” to help both people and the nation pay the bills.

He told GB News: “As we move towards a Budget in the autumn, I think you’ll see in the Speech today some really assertive new measures to dynamise our economy, drive it forward, so that in the medium term we can pay our bills both at home and as a nation.”

There will be 'quite a lot of nice things coming in this box of chocolates'

Policing minister Kit Malthouse said there will be “quite a lot of nice things coming in this box of chocolates” when asked about the contents of the Queen’s Speech.

Asked if there might be a cut in VAT or cuts in income tax, he told LBC: “That’s for a budget, that wouldn’t be for a Queen’s Speech, but I think what you will see today is us taking advantage, for example, of Brexit freedoms to strengthen our economy and make it more dynamic, as well as doing a variety of other issues.

“I don’t want to get reprimanded by the Speaker by telling you but I think you’ll find there’s quite a lot of nice things coming in this box of chocolates.”

Queen’s Speech will set out ways to 'dynamise the UK economy'

Policing minister Kit Malthouse said the Queen’s Speech will set out ways to “dynamise the UK economy”.

He told BBC Breakfast: “It’s worth reiterating what the Prime Minister said, which is that we can’t spend our way out of this problem, we have to grow our way out.

“So, the Queen’s Speech will be about looking at the opportunities we can to dynamise the UK economy, remove some of the regulation which is holding us back, really grow our economy strongly into a high skill, high wage economy.”

Policing minister speaks about new Public Order Bill

Policing minister Kit Malthouse said a new Public Order Bill is aimed at deterring people from “hooligan” protesting.

He told BBC Breakfast: “We have seen a number of very, very prolific, persistent offenders who decide to just flagrantly ignore the courts and so we’ll be bringing in a new serious disruption prevention order which we can place on them as individuals to deter them, if you like, from this kind of hooligan way of protesting.

“We believe that protest is fundamental to our democracy but it has to be balanced against the rights of others to go about their business, and indeed keeping us all safe.

“I’m afraid some of the tactics we’ve seen recently haven’t done that.”

Policing minister acknowledges “alarm” at predictions

Policing minister Kit Malthouse has acknowledged Government “alarm” at predictions of soaring inflation but downplayed hopes of rapid help in the Queen’s Speech.

He told Sky News: “As far as the cost-of-living crisis is concerned, it is incredibly challenging for people out there at the moment.

“Obviously, legislation takes some time to put in place, it has to go through both Houses, it can often be many months, sometimes over a year, before it hits the statute book.

“I do know the Prime Minister and Chancellor are in constant conversation about how we can be agile in assisting people through this challenging time.”

Mr Malthouse added: “We look with alarm at the predictions the Bank of England have made just in the last week or so of inflation peaking towards the end of the year and we will have to think carefully about what our response to that might be.”

Prince of Wales will read the Queen’s Speech

The Queen’s Speech will contain new measures to “dynamise” the UK to ensure people can pay the bills, a Government minister has said.

But while policing minister Kit Malthouse acknowledged Government “alarm” at predictions of soaring inflation, he downplayed hopes of rapid help being announced on Tuesday.

The Prince of Wales will read the Queen’s Speech for the first time as the monarch misses the State Opening of Parliament for the first time in almost 60 years.

The Queen, 96, pulled out of the ceremonial occasion – when she reads out the Government’s legislative programme for the forthcoming parliamentary session – as she continued to experience “episodic mobility problems”.

In the Queen’s absence, Charles will take on the head of state’s major constitutional duty, in a move which will be interpreted as a significant shift in his responsibilities as a king-in-waiting.

The Duke of Cambridge, also a future monarch, will attend the State Opening, the first time he has done so, with the royal function of opening a new parliament delegated to both Charles and William by the Queen.

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Biden's remark, 'God save the Queen, man', during Connecticut speech, causes confusion

President Joe Biden caused some confusion at the end of the speech he gave Friday at the National Safer Communities Summit in Connecticut.

Biden spoke to gun safety advocates and survivors of gun violence for about 30 minutes Friday afternoon at the University of Hartford and ended his speech with the phrase "Alright? God save the Queen, man."

"God Save The Queen" began trending on Twitter soon after with many addressing their own confusion and criticizing the gaffe.

Many were questioning whether Biden referenced Queen Elizabeth II, Britain’s longest-serving monarch , who died in September. Biden attended the queen's funeral on Sept. 19 .

The US president was speaking at a gun control event in Connecticut when he ended his speech with 'God save the Queen, man'. More videos 👉 https://t.co/ysedGvYg96 pic.twitter.com/s95OVKV0Ko — Sky News (@SkyNews) June 16, 2023

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President Biden’s “God save the Queen, man” remark after his speech is befuddling many. The latest dispatch from pool reporter @toddgillman sums it up. pic.twitter.com/oaFyoF8sfj — Joey Garrison (@joeygarrison) June 16, 2023

Todd Gillman , the White House correspondent for The Dallas Morning News, covered Biden's speech and said that he and other pool reporters in the room did not understand the intent of the remark.

“Several of you have asked me why he might have said that,” Gillman wrote Friday. “I have no idea. Other pooler likewise have no idea.”

During his speech, the president expressed disgust that there is gun violence "every damn day in America" as he pushed several gun control measures including universal background checks and banning AR-15s .

Biden said he will never yield on the issue of gun violence.

"A lot of you are tired. You're tired. No, I get it. Try being 110 and doing it again," Biden said. "Whether your Democrat or Republic we all want families to be safe. We all want to drop them off at a house of worship, a mall, a movie, a school door without worrying that's the last time we're ever see them."

Biden has the extremely odd habit of ending his remarks with cryptic phrases whose significance is mostly legible only to him. "God save the queen" is also what he said right after certifying Trump's election in 2017. He seems to use it to mean something like, "God help us all." https://t.co/JkwD7LMSF5 — Yoni Appelbaum (@YAppelbaum) June 16, 2023

President Biden: I’m doing everything I can to reduce gun violence, but Congress must do more

Toward the end of the speech, Biden said he usually sticks around to shake hands but had to leave early due to an impending storm.

"That's the truth, now don't make a lie," Biden said. "As that scene in the John Wayne movie, don't make me a dog-faced lying pony soldier.' 

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NYPD releases photo of suspect wanted in connection with 'antisemitic' subway chant

NEW YORK CITY -- The NYPD released a new wanted poster Wednesday as they continue to look for the man who yelled for "Zionists" riding on a southbound No. 5 subway train last week to identify themselves.

The unidentified suspect is seen in a still photo made from surveillance footage. The man can be seen in the newly released image wearing a piece of cloth with a design resembling the Palestinian keffiyeh and the Palestinian flag's colors draped on his shoulders.

The suspect, who is seen with dark sunglasses and a chin strap style beard, allegedly chanted on a subway train "Raise your hands if you're a Zionist. Repeat after me; this is your chance to get out," on June 10 as the train was held at the Union Square station in Manhattan. He is wanted on suspicion of attempted coercion, according to police.

Video of the incident went viral two days after the incident happened, with one rider filing a police complaint in response.

The NYPD is asking others who were aboard the subway car and felt threatened to come forward as well as anyone with information on the suspect.

A spokesperson for New York City Mayor Eric Adams said in a statement, "New York City will always protect the right to free speech, but we will never allow our city to descend into lawlessness.

"Threatening New Yorkers based on their beliefs is not only vile, it's illegal and will not be tolerated. Anyone with information about those responsible for this illegal conduct should contact the NYPD immediately," the spokesman said.

The incident was part of numerous demonstrations related to the ongoing Israel-Hamas conflict in Gaza that led to vandalism in several New York City locations last week.

The homes of the Jewish director of the Brooklyn Museum and several of the museum's board members were vandalized allegedly by protesters last week, the police previously said.

"We are deeply troubled by these horrible acts," a spokesperson for the Brooklyn Museum said in a statement last week.

Another New York City protest tied to the war in Gaza prompted a large police response early June 12 and the closure of a block on the city's Upper East Side, where the Palestinian Mission to the United Nations was vandalized and demonstrators littered the street with leaflets smeared with red paint and encouraging the intifada, according to police.

ABC News' Bill Hutchinson contributed to this report.

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Man accused of raping 13-year-old girl in New York City was arrested with help from local residents

A 25-year-old man has been arrested in connection with the violent child sexual attack that has terrorized New York City's Queens community for days and shocked New Yorkers throughout the city, police said Tuesday.

The man, identified by police as Christian Inga, was taken into custody at 108th and Waldron Street, less than three miles from the park where officials allege he ambushed two 13-year-olds in a field after school Thursday, forced them into the woods at knifepoint and tied them up before sexually assaulting the girl.

NYPD Chief of Detectives Joseph Kenny said at a press conference on Tuesday that he entered the U.S. from Ecuador through Eagle Pass, Texas, on June 25, 2021. People living with him at a rooming house recognized him from the NYPD wanted posters.

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Jeffrey Flores told NBC New York he recognized Inga after police released a sketch and video of him on a bike. Flores decided to take some friends to wait at a bodega on 108th and Waldon streets the suspect frequents for cigarettes and drinks. Another man said they waited for Inga for hours.

He eventually showed up in the middle of the night.

“I told everybody yo this the rapist. I punched him. I kicked him. I ain’t gonna lie,” said Flores.

They started attacking him, sources said, and called 911 to say, “Come get him.”

“He started yelling ‘help, help’ in Spanish. I was like ‘Yeah that’s what the little girl was saying,’” said Flores. “He really try to run, run, run for his life but he couldn’t.”

Flores says he put Inga in a headlock and tied his legs together with a belt. He said the man didn’t deny the sexual assault allegations, a statement corroborated by a bodega worker in the store at the time.

“Yeah he admitted to it. He said, ‘Alright, alright, fine, fine. Just leave me alone, don’t hit me, don’t hit me,’” Flores told NBC New York.

At one point, Flores says the man tried to hide underneath a car — until officers arrived and took him into custody.

“We don’t have confirmation of that,” Kenny said. “We are hearing that possibly they may have used a belt to try to hold his feet together to keep him from running away.”

Kenny also said Inga waived his Miranda rights and “indicated he had a drug problem.” He also said he found the knife used in the alleged attack, and “that this was the first time he’s ever done anything like this.”

Hailed a neighborhood hero, Flores says he felt the need to apprehend Inga because he has two sisters and a baby girl on the way.

“Feels good, I did something good for New York City. That’s one less guy off the streets,” said Flores. “We was lucky enough to see him, that’s crazy. It’s not everyday you just catch a rapist.”

Inga, a father of two, is being charged with rape, robbery, sexual assault, kidnapping, endangering child welfare and other counts.

Multiple high-level NYPD officials had pleaded with the public Friday for help i dentifying the tattooed stranger they say forced the schoolmates into the woods . They had offered a $10,000 reward for information leading to an arrest.

Police thanked the community for helping identify the suspect.

“This is exactly what we mean when talk about public safety is a shared responsibility,” said NYPD Commissioner Edward Cabán. “The past few days proved to the world again that the people in this city can come together and get the job done like no one else.”

According to investigators, the boy and girl were on a field in Kissena Park around 3 p.m., just after school let out for the day, when a curly-haired man with braces walked up and demanded they follow him into the woods. When they refused, police say he pulled out a “large machete-style knife” and forced them into an isolated area, where he bound each of their wrists with a shoelace. Then he sexually assaulted the 13-year-old girl.

The kids told cops the man warned them to stay where they were for 20 minutes. He then ran off with their phones. Once time was up, they returned to school and told administrators what happened. They called 911 immediately.

Cabán also said the victims gave “crucial” information that was needed to make the arrest.

The children were taken to a hospital in stable condition.

A shoelace, possibly the one used to tie the children’s wrists, was recovered at the scene.

Police said Inga had no prior arrests in New York City but did have one arrest in Texas.

 Myles Miller is a reporter for NBC New York.

Jennifer Millman is a managing editor for NBC New York.

Melissa Colorado is a reporter for NBC New York.