A MASKED man with a crossbow poses in a chilling video in which he threatened to “assassinate the Queen”.
He was understood to be the man of 19 held by armed police at Windsor Castle on Christmas Day.
Suspect Jaswant Singh Chail was sectioned under the Mental Health Act.
The video was sent to pals from 19-year-old Chail’s Snapchat account 24 minutes before he was pounced on by armed officers on Christmas Day morning.
He was 500 metres from the Queen’s private apartments, inside the castle grounds.
Chail, known as Jas, was arrested while allegedly armed with a crossbow after scaling a spiked fence with a rope ladder.
In the video clip, the figure holds the shiny black weapon and addresses the camera with a distorted voice while wearing a hoodie.
He is in a sinister white mask apparently inspired by Star Wars — and his message makes references to the film franchise’s mythology.
He says: “I’m sorry. I’m sorry for what I’ve done and what I will do. I will attempt to assassinate Elizabeth, Queen of the Royal Family.
“This is revenge for those who have died in the 1919 Jallianwala Bagh massacre.
“It is also revenge for those who have been killed, humiliated and discriminated on because of their race.
“I’m an Indian Sikh, a Sith. My name was Jaswant Singh Chail, my name is Darth Jones.”
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In Star Wars, the Sith are the enemies of the Jedi Knights and worship the dark side of “the Force”.
And “Darth Jones” could be a reference to James Earl Jones, the actor who voiced Darth Vader in the original trilogy.
The Jallianwala Bagh Massacre, or Massacre of Amritsar, took place in India in 1919, when British colonial troops shot and killed 379 protesters and wounded about 1,200.
Police confirmed they were assessing the video — which featured a framed picture of obscure Star Wars bad guy Darth Malgus on a wall behind the masked man.
The suspect added that he did not expect to survive the attack on the Queen.
In a message sent on Snapchat alongside the video, the teen wrote: “I’m sorry to all of those who I have wronged or lied to.
“If you have received this then my death is near. Please share this with whoever and if possible get it to the news if they’re interested.”
The pre-recorded video was posted at 8.06am on Christmas Day.
Armed police nabbed the 19-year-old intruder at 8.30am after he triggered alarms and was spotted on CCTV.
It was understood that the man activated motion sensors and was “immediately confronted” by police.
TEEN SECTIONED
The teenager was sectioned under the Mental Health Act after doctors pronounced him unfit to be dealt with over the break-in.
Today’s revelation by HOAR about the video sent beforehand raises further questions about the security incident.
The Queen was having breakfast at the time and was informed of the break-in along with other members of the Royal Family present at the Castle.
It remained unclear how and when the intruder made his way to Windsor Castle from his home in Southampton, Hants.
Neighbours yesterday spoke of their shock about the suspect’s arrest and described how a flurry of police arrived at their private housing estate on Christmas Day.
Police were seen going in and out of the four-bed detached home where the suspect lives with his family. Patrol cars lined the road as shocked locals peered out from their windows.
One neighbour said: “There was a big commotion with all the police around and it caused some concern, especially as it was Christmas Day.
“The family keep themselves to themselves, like the rest of the estate, but we know there’s a teenage lad who lives there with his mum and dad.
“The police didn’t leave the estate until late at night. Everyone was wondering what was going on.
“We saw the Windsor story in the news but never thought our road would be at the centre of it.”
‘DARTH JONES’
The suspect was held on suspicion of “breach or trespass of a protected site and possession of an offensive weapon” moments after breaking into the castle grounds.
A Met Police spokesperson said last night: “The man was taken into custody and has undergone a mental health assessment.
“He has since been sectioned under the Mental Health Act and remains in the care of medical professionals. Inquiries into the full circumstances of this incident are being progressed by Metropolitan Police Specialist Operations.”
The suspect was initially taken to a local police station as a joint probe was set up by Thames Valley Police and the Met.
Yesterday, the case was handed over to the Met alone. Its Royal Protection command is responsible for maintaining security within the perimeter of the castle.
It was understood the Met has taken on the investigation because the suspect was arrested within the grounds and also because of the potential serious nature of the break-in.
Police stressed the intruder did not enter any building and that “security processes were triggered within moments of the man entering the grounds.”
Yesterday, further details emerged about the security alert.
ROPE LADDER BREAK-IN
The intruder was caught after triggering alarms as he used a rope ladder to scale a metal fence on Long Walk — yards from Cambridge Gate at the junction with Park Street.
The Queen, 95, was in her private apartments where she was preparing for her first Christmas Day without late husband Prince Philip.
It is believed as many as 20 family members were inside the castle.
They were thought to include Mike and Zara Tindall, Prince Edward and wife Sophie, Princess Beatrice and Eugenie and their children.
This meant the castle was already on high alert as so many royals were in one place at the same time.
A source said: “The bloke triggered the alarms almost immediately after he went over the fence.”
Just minutes after cops swooped, Prince Andrew was seen driving down the Long Walk in his Range Rover with a protection officer.
He was set to drive from his Royal Lodge home three miles away into the castle through Cambridge Gate but was diverted to another entrance.
Security at Windsor Castle was beefed up after self-styled “comedy terrorist”
Aaron Barschak managed to get into Prince William’s 21st birthday party in 2003.
A new security review will now take place as a matter of routine.
