Watch moment man arrested after car crashes into Downing Street gates
A silver Kia smashed into the gates of Downing Street at around 4.20pm. Police quickly scrambled to arrest the man on suspicion of criminal damage and dangerous driving.
Thursday 25 May 2023 23:10, UK
A man has been arrested after a car hit the main gates of Downing Street.
The silver Kia crashed into the barrier at around 4.20pm on Thursday, the Metropolitan Police said.
The drama unfolded when the vehicle appeared to come out of a car park next to the Ministry of Defence building on the opposite side of the road.
It then crossed near the Cenotaph, before abruptly breaking and then driving forward directly into the gates.
Pedestrians were told to "move back" by officers as the driver was arrested on suspicion of criminal damage and dangerous driving.
Police said no-one had been hurt and the incident was not being treated as terror-related. Local officers in Westminster were investigating.
The prime minister was in Downing Street at the time of the crash.
But Rishi Sunak, who had been due to leave No 10 anyway, departed after the incident.
Chancellor Jeremy Hunt was also in Downing Street at the time, Sky News understands.
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Downing Street crash: Eyewitness testimony
Officers were pictured searching the vehicle's boot and removing a white sheet.
Large sections of Whitehall were closed to the public and vehicles following the incident, but they were later reopened.
Eyewitness Krish Kandiah, who was delivering a petition at Downing Street when the crash happened, told Sky News there was an "almighty smash at the front gate".
"Immediately we saw police scramble and armed officers responded swiftly. They shouted at the man to get out. He was wrestled out of the car and put down on the ground and handcuffed," he said.
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Another witness Simon Parry, 44, said: "I heard a bang and looked up and saw loads of police with Tasers shouting at the man.
"A lot of police vehicles came very quickly and were very quick to evacuate the area."
Mr Parry said the driver had his "face to the floor" as he was being arrested.
He said the man appeared to slow down before he reached the gates of Downing Street, having driven out from the other side of the road.
"There were sniffer dogs and a bomb squad," he added.
Asked to describe the mood in the immediate aftermath, Mr Parry said: "We saw people that were in a panic running away and we saw people who were excited."
The Metropolitan Police said in a statement: "At approximately 4.20pm on Thursday 25 May 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. He has been taken into custody."