UK police arrest guy after automobile crashes into gates of Downing Boulevard

London’s Metropolitan police arrested a person on Thursday after he drove a automobile into the protection gates protective Downing Boulevard, the place UK top minister Rishi Sunak and chancellor Jeremy Hunt have their professional apartments.

The incident happened at round 4.20pm. Police mentioned there have been no accidents. “Armed police arrested a person on the scene on suspicion of felony injury and threatening riding,” the Met mentioned.

Requested if the incident was once being handled as probably terrorist linked, the Met mentioned: “Enquiries are ongoing.” Sunak was once in his place of job in Downing Boulevard on the time.

Footage taken on the scene confirmed a middle-aged white guy in handcuffs being led away by way of officials.

Whitehall, the primary street that runs previous Downing Boulevard from Trafalgar Sq. to Parliament Sq., was once cordoned off. Folks flocked to the barricades, at the back of which there was once a heavy police presence, together with officials with sniffer canines.

Pictures of the automobile, a silver Kia, moments ahead of confirmed it at the a long way aspect of Whitehall from Downing Boulevard out of doors the Ministry of Defence heading in opposition to Parliament Sq.. It then pulled out and headed around the street at low pace after which bogged down once more because it approached Downing Boulevard ahead of coming to a halt in entrance of the tall, wrought iron gates.

A witness advised the BBC that he noticed police with Taser weapons pointed at a person who was once being held face down at the pavement. He was once therefore arrested and marched clear of the scene by way of law enforcement officials.

Inside of an hour of the incident going down, police had lifted the protection cordon and site visitors once more flowed freely previous Downing Boulevard. 

There was once no early indication that Thursday’s collision was once terrorist-related. After the preliminary flurry of safety process, pedestrians have been allowed to stroll freely at the different aspect of Whitehall, which safety resources mentioned was once a excellent indication of a loss of any wider danger. 

The latest terrorist-related incident on the seat of the United Kingdom govt was once in 2017 when Khalid Masood, a 52-year-old Briton, drove a automobile into pedestrians on Westminster bridge ahead of fatally stabbing a policeman out of doors parliament.