Electromagnetic lock

A lock for a movable barrier such as a door, said lock comprising a tongue pivotable on a first axis between a locking position where it engages a striker and an unlocked position where it is clear of said striker, a pawl pivotable on a second axis between a first position where one end thereof abuts said tongue to hold it in said locking position and a second position where said one end is clear of the tongue and a set of toggles hingedly connected end to end between another opposite end of said pawl and a third axis, the interconnected ends of said toggles being connected to a solenoid plunger by a linkage and a stop means movable between a fail secure position where, when said solenoid is deactivated said toggles are biased by a spring means against said stop means in a substantially straight configuration to hold the pawl and tongue in said locking position, and a fail safe position where during energization of said solenoid said toggles are held to a slightly offset position against said stop means and upon deactivation of said solenoid said spring means urges said toggles to a folded configuration and said pawl and tongue means are arranged to then pivot to said unlocked position upon a withdrawal force being applied to the striker.