LONDON, UK — An ominous calm was disrupted in the heart of London’s government district when a car was driven into the gates of Downing Street, home to Britain’s Prime Minister Rishi Sunak and several other senior politicians.
The unexpected event triggered an immediate response from armed police, resulting in a man’s arrest.
According to London’s Metropolitan Police, the arrest was made “on suspicion of criminal damage and dangerous driving.”
As the incident unfolded on Thursday, May 25, 2023 the authorities have reported no injuries.
The motives behind the incident remain unclear, as authorities are working diligently to piece together the circumstances.
The Associated Press confirmed that Prime Minister Sunak was in his office when the incident occurred.
Witnesses shared footage on social media of a silver hatchback making a slow, deliberate approach towards Downing Street’s gates, cutting across Whitehall, London’s principal governmental thoroughfare.
The gates of Downing Street, perpetually guarded by both armed and unarmed police officers, were thrust into the spotlight as video captured the car, trunk opened, halted against the towering metal gates. Police officers were seen meticulously examining the vehicle, retrieving items from the trunk and preserving them as evidence.
Simon Parry, a 44-year-old witness at the scene, told Britain’s Press Association news agency, “I heard a bang and looked up and saw loads of police with taser guns shouting at the man.”
Parry noted the swift response of law enforcement, as “a lot of police vehicles came very quickly and were very quick to evacuate the area.”
The aftermath of the incident led to a considerable part of the surrounding area being cordoned off from public access as police officers swept the vicinity.
This incident resonates with historical threats faced by Downing Street, notably the 1989 threats from Irish Republican Army militants which led to the gates’ erection.
Recalling another grave incident from 1991, an IRA-fired mortar exploded in No. 10’s backyard during a Cabinet meeting presided by then Prime Minister John Major.
The 2017 Westminster Bridge attack is also etched in the city’s memory, when an extremist claimed four lives before fatally stabbing a police officer outside Parliament.
In the wake of these historical incidents, Thursday’s event has rekindled unease and reaffirmed the ever-present need for vigilance in London’s political heartland.
