Man Arrested for Downing Street Gates Car Crash

A man has been arrested by the Met Police after a car crashed into the Downing Street gates. The incident occurred at around 4:20 pm BST, and the man has been held on suspicion of criminal damage and dangerous driving. While officers did point tasers at the man, the incident is not being treated as terror-related by the authorities.

Thankfully, nobody was injured as a result of the crash, but the area was partially evacuated, and Whitehall was temporarily closed to traffic. Speaking about the incident, witness Simon Parry said that police cars arrived “very quickly” to the scene, and added that he saw people “in a panic running away”.

A car, identified as a 2009 silver Kia registered in London, can be seen in footage of the event as it crosses two lanes of Whitehall and directly approaches the main gates. Police officers, both armed and unarmed, remained on high alert during and after the incident, which has since been resolved.

While the overall damage to the gate is said to be minimal, the incident is a reminder of the delicate balance between public access rights and security measures, according to Conservative MP Tobias Ellwood. Speaking with the BBC, Ellwood said that Westminster feels safer following the security overhaul triggered by the 2017 terror attack, but also has “huge concerns” about vulnerabilities around No. 10.

The incident serves as a reminder that despite the best-laid security plans, incidents can still occur, and rapid response measures are essential. The fact that Downing Street has been a target in the past only strengthens the need for increased security.

Credit: bbc.co.uk

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