Car crashes into UK PM Rishi Sunak's Downing Street home gates, 1 arrested for criminal damage
London, May 25: A man remains under arrest on Thursday on suspicion of criminal damage and dangerous driving after a car crashed into the gates of 10 Downing Street in London, the official residence of British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak, the Metropolitan Police said.
Sunak was in his office at the time of the incident but left soon after from another exit for a pre-scheduled departure, sources from 10 Downing Street said.
The cordons placed by police around the street have since been lifted even as armed officers remain on guard at the Prime Minister's office, as is usual.
According to reports, counter-terrorism police are not involved in the ongoing police enquiries at this stage.
"At around 16.20 hours [local time] a car collided with the gates of Downing Street on Whitehall," the Met Police said in a statement.
"Armed officers arrested a man at the scene on suspicion of criminal damage and dangerous driving. There are no reports of any injuries. Enquiries are ongoing," the police said.
Officers could soon be seen winding down the heightened security operation on Whitehall, the main political hub of London between Trafalgar Square and Parliament Square.
Officials inside Downing Street were initially asked to stay indoors but could soon be seen moving out of offices, including from the Cabinet Office which is next door to 10 Downing Street.
Meanwhile, images on social media showed a silver passenger car with its boot open slammed into the gates of Downing Street, which is significantly protected with barriers and a solid double-barrel black iron gate at all times.
As CCTV footage emerged, a handcuffed heavy-set man with white hair could be seen being led away by armed Met Police officers. Eyewitnesses reported hearing a bang and officers shouting at the suspect as taser guns were deployed before the arrest.
Officers were later pictured searching the vehicle's boot and removing a large white sheet.
CCTV footage of the incident being played on television showed the small silver hatchback coming out of a car park next to the Ministry of Defence (MoD) building, crossing Whitehall before abruptly breaking and then driving forward directly into the gates of Downing Street. The security around one of the most famous streets of the world has been heightened ever since the militant Irish Republican Army (IRA) threat in the 1990s.
The main gates remain shut at all times behind additional movable barriers and are opened only briefly for any official cars entering or exiting the street. Any visitors to Downing Street are subjected to strict checks through a side gate.
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UP: Five of family arrested for assaulting a cop during raid in Sultanpuri
New Delhi (PTI): The Delhi Police has arrested five of a family for allegedly assaulting a police officer and snatching his service pistol during a raid in the Sultanpuri area, an official said on Wednesday.
The accused are Rajender (50), his sons Ritik (24), Sachin (29), Abhishek (26), and his daughter Komal (22).
The incident occurred on September 2, when a team from the Anti-Narcotics Task Force arrested Alka, wife of Rajender, for possession of heroin, police said.
During the raid, Alka's family members attacked a police officer with sticks and bricks and snatched his service pistol, mobile phone, and wallet. However, the officer managed to recover his service pistol, they said.
Police said that an FIR was registered and an investigation was launched.
Acting on a tip-off, police arrested the accused, absconding since the incident, from a flat in Raghubir Nagar in Delhi.
