Police say a car has crashed into the gates of Downing Street in central London, where the British Prime Minister’s residence and offices are located.
Police are at the scene after a car crashed into the gates of Downing Street, in London, Thursday May 25, 2023. Police say a car crashed into the gates of Downing Street in central London, where the British Prime Minister’s residence and offices are located. . The Metropolitan Police say there are no reports of injuries. Police said a man was arrested at the scene on suspicion of vandalism and dangerous driving. It is not known if the accident was intentional. (Ben Hatton/PA via AP)
The Associated Press
LONDON — A car crashed Thursday into the gates of Downing Street in central London, where the residence and offices of the British prime minister are located, prompting emergency security at one of London’s most heavily fortified sites.
The Metropolitan Police said a man was arrested on Thursday afternoon at the scene on suspicion of vandalism and dangerous driving. There were no reports of injuries.
It is not known whether Prime Minister Rishi Sunak was in his office at the time.
Footage posted on social media showed a white car driving through the gates at high speed through Whitehall, a major thoroughfare in London’s borough. Photos shot soon after showed the car with its trunk open on the tall side gates.
It is not known if the accident was intentional. The police said they are trying to find out what is happening.
Police cordoned off Whitehall after the crash but later removed other barriers.
Downing Street is a narrow street lined with Georgian houses that include the Prime Minister’s residence at No.
The gates were built in 1989 in response to Irish Republican Army attacks. Public access to the street is restricted and the gates are guarded at all times by armed police.
