Downing Street car crash: Vehicle bashes gates outside No10 with Whitehall on lockdown
Downing Street car crash: Vehicle smashes into gate outside No10 - one arrested
A car has smashed into the gates protecting the Prime Minister's residence on Downing Street.
The vehicle collided with the gates just a stone's throw from Number 10 at around 4.20pm.
The silver Kia hatchback car was recorded crashing into Downing Street's black iron gates.
The car appeared to drive across the street, slow down as it approached Downing Street, before ramming into the gates.
Despite the slow speed of the collision, people were spotted quickly fleeing the area.
It is not quite clear where the car was travelling from before reaching Downing Street.
The vehicle appeared to be angled outside a gated car park next to the Ministry of Defence.
Police have arrested a man in connection with the collision.
The suspect was arrested on suspicion of criminal damage and dangerous driving.
Officers have taken the suspect to a central London police station for further questioning
GB News
Police have arrested a man in connection with the collision
GB News
The incident is not currently being treated as an act of terrorism.
GB News understands the individual arrested is a middle-aged, white man, wearing a white T-shirt.
Officers have taken the suspect to a central London police station for further questioning.
The Metropolitan Police said: "At around 4.20pm 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."
Whitehall has been locked down by Scotland Yard and sniffer dogs are patrolling the area
GB News
In a statement at 6.13pm, Scotland Yard added: "A small cordon remains in place outside Downing Street after a car collided with the gates earlier this afternoon.
"The incident is being dealt with by local officers in Westminster and isn't currently being treated as terror-related."
There are no reports of any injuries.
Rishi Sunak was in Number 10 at the time of the crash.
The Prime Minister has since left his official residence for a scheduled visit.
However, shortly after the incident a video revealed that a convoy of cars left from Downing Street's rear exit.
Whitehall has been locked down by Scotland Yard and sniffer dogs are patrolling the area.
A Parliament source told GB News: "Whitehall has been closed off, there are no cars travelling either way near Millbank and there is definitely far more police presence than usual, including a firearms van."
Officers have been filmed thoroughly searching the vehicle.
Eyewitness Simon Parry also said: "There were sniffer dogs and a bomb squad."
He added: "We saw people that were in a panic running away and we saw people who were excited."
The Metropolitan Police's enquiries are ongoing.
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