Car crashes into gates of Downing Street, where UK Prime Minister lives

Tweet Facebook Mail A man has been arrested in London after his car crashed into the main gates leading to Downing Street, where the UK Prime Minister lives and works. In video broadcast by the BBC, a silver hatchback can be seen driving directly at the wrought-iron gates which prevent public access to Downing Street, setting off a rapid security response at one of London’s most-fortified sites. Armed officers arrested a man at the scene around 4.

20pm on Thursday (1. 20am Friday AEST) “on suspicion of criminal damage and dangerous driving”, Metropolitan Police said in a statement.  READ MORE:  Online fashion retailer blocks 42,000 customers for returning too many items A man has been arrested in London after his car crashed into the main gates leading to Downing Street, where UK Prime Minister Rishi Sunak lives and works.

(Ben Hatton/PA via AP) He has been taken into custody and inquiries are ongoing but there are no immediate reports of any injuries. British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak was in Downing Street at the time of the incident on Thursday, but has since left for a scheduled visit, the BBC reported. Video footage posted on social media showed a car heading straight for the gates at low speed across Whitehall, the main thoroughfare in London’s government district.

Footage shot soon after showed a car with its trunk open up against the tall metal gates, as police officers inspected the vehicle. It was not immediately clear whether the crash was deliberate. (Ben Hatton/PA via AP) It was not immediately clear whether the crash was deliberate.

Police said they were working to establish the circumstances. “I heard a bang and looked up and saw loads of police with taser guns shouting at the man,” said witness Simon Parry, 44. “A lot of police vehicles came very quickly and were very quick to evacuate the area.

” The BBC showed a photo of officers leading away a man with handcuffed hands behind his back. UK’s Met Police had cordoned off Whitehall – the main road running past Downing St and where other politicians are based – in the aftermath of the incident. UK’s Met Police had cordoned off Whitehall – the main road running past Downing St and where other politicians are based – in the aftermath of the incident.

(Twitter) Although, they began to lift the barriers within half an hour, allowing people back into the area, which normally teems with civil servants and tourists keen to see the nearby Houses of Parliament and other historic buildings. Downing Street is a narrow street with a row of Georgian houses that includes the prime minister’s official residence at No. 10.

Public access to the street is restricted and the gates are protected at all times by armed police officers. Downing Street is a narrow street with a row of Georgian houses that includes the prime minister’s official residence at No. 10.

(AP Photo/David Cliff) The gates were erected in 1989 in response to threats from Irish Republican Army militants. In 1991 the IRA fired three mortars at the street, one of which exploded in the backyard of No. 10 while Prime Minister John Major was leading a Cabinet meeting inside.

Three police officers and a civil servant suffered minor injuries. Sign up here to receive our daily newsletters and breaking news alerts, sent straight to your inbox. .