Man arrested for crashing car into Downing Street gates; security cordon in Whitehall

Armed police in London have arrested one man after a car crashed into the gates of the United Kingdom prime minister's Downing Street office and residence in central London today, Scotland Yard said.

Photos showed a middle-aged white man being taken away by armed officers as police vehicles swarmed the area.
Photos showed a middle-aged white man being taken away by armed officers as police vehicles swarmed the area. Photo courtesy: Twitter/@ArchRose90

"At around 16:20 (1520 GMT) a car collided with the gates of Downing Street on Whitehall. Armed officers arrested a man at the scene on suspicion of criminal damage and dangerous driving," the Metropolitan police said in a statement. No injuries were reported and police added that enquiries were ongoing.

Video footage of the incident showed a silver Kia car driving at low speed across Whitehall, where many government ministries are located. It appeared to then mount the footpath and came to a halt after hitting the large metal gates that guard the entrance to Downing Street.

Other footage showed a police cordon surrounding the car, with its boot open. A cordon established outside Downing Street has now been removed, and the area is busy again with visitors and workers leaving their offices.

UK PM Rishi Sunak had been scheduled to leave Downing Street at the end of the afternoon but was slightly delayed by the crash and security scare, No 10 said.

Police were seen searching the car as the operation continued.