Man arrested after car crashes into Downing Street
Press play to listen to this article
Voiced by artificial intelligence.
LONDON — A man has been arrested after a car crashed into the gates of Downing Street, the residence of U.K. Prime Minister Rishi Sunak, on Thursday evening.
The Metropolitan Police said in a statement that a car had “collided with the gate of Downing Street on Whitehall” at around 4.20 p.m. local time.
“Armed officers arrested a man at the scene on suspicion of criminal damage and dangerous driving,” the London police force added. “He has been taken into custody.”
Footage from the scene shows the car crossing Whitehall — home of several key government departments — and approaching the main entrance to Downing Street, which is heavily guarded by police. It appears to slow down before hitting the gates.
The BBC and Press Association news agency reported that Sunak was in No. 10 Downing Street at the time of the incident, but subsequently left for a pre-planned visit. The part of Whitehall around No.10 Downing Street has now been reopened after being briefly cordoned off by police.
“There were no reports of any injuries,” the Met said. “Enquiries are ongoing to establish the circumstances.”
Security is tightly controlled around Westminster, the scene of a deadly terrorist attack on the U.K. parliament in 2017.
This developing story has been updated.
