London ? A man who scaled the back fence of Prime Minister Tony Blair’s residence on Downing Street was charged Monday with assault on a police officer and possession of a knife, authorities said.

The 32-year-old man, who was arrested Sunday night, struggled briefly with police before he was pinned and handcuffed, said a Metropolitan Police spokeswoman, speaking on condition of anonymity in line with department policy.

Police said Byung Jin Lee tried to lunge at an officer but was not wielding the large kitchen knife found in his possession. The man, who has no fixed address, was to appear in court in central London this morning.

The intruder was arrested before he could climb another wall into the gardens of the home, police said, adding that the prime minister was at home at the time but was not at risk.