A car crashed into the gates near the prime minister’s office on Downing Street in Central London on Thursday afternoon, and police arrested a man “on suspicion of criminal damage and dangerous driving.”
There were no immediate reports of injuries.
The car hit the gates around 4:20 p.m., and armed officers arrested the man at the scene, according to London’s Metropolitan Police. He was not immediately identified.
Police said “inquiries are ongoing to determine the circumstances” of the crash. It was not immediately determined whether the crash was intentional.
The gates are about 350 feet from the front of Prime Minister Rishi Sunak’s office and residence at 10 Downing Street.
Images from the scene of the crash show a silver car, and police have cordoned off a nearby road. The road has a high level of security, and the response to a car crash seems to be fast.
Central London has been the site of major attacks in the past, including one where a driver plowed into several pedestrians with a car outside government offices near Westminster Bridge. At least four people, including the killer, died.
This is an evolving story; please check back for updates.
