27 May 2023 , 10:19
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A man who was arrested after crashing his car into the Downing Street gates has been released from custody, police have said.
In a statement the Metropolitan Police said that the 43-year-old man, who was arrested on Thursday (May 25) on suspicion of criminal damage and dangerous driving; “has since been released under investigation in relation to this matter.
“Enquiries into the incident continue by officers from the Central West Command Unit, supported by officers from the Counter Terrorism Command,” the force added.
“The incident is not being treated as terror-related.”
The man was arrested at 4.20pm on Thursday afternoon after the car collided with the gates of Downing Street, home of the Prime Minister and his family.
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The car after colliding with the gates of Downing Street in London (Alastair Grant/AP/REX/Shutterstock)Rishi Sunak is understood to have been in No 10 at the time of the crash, but departed shortly afterwards on a scheduled appointment.
Eyewitness Simon Parry, 44, told the PA news agency that he heard a "bang" and saw police pointing Taser guns at a man.
"I heard a bang and looked up and saw loads of police with Taser guns shouting at the man," he said.
"A lot of police vehicles came very quickly and were very quick to evacuate the area."
Police officers at the scene of the car crash at Downing Street (TOLGA AKMEN/EPA-EFE/REX/Shutterstock)Mr Parry said the driver had his "face to the floor" as he was being arrested.
He said the man appeared to slow down before he reached the gates of Downing Street, having driven out from the other side of the road.
Others reported a man being led away in handcuffs by several police officers, who were also seen searching the boot of the car.
Video footage of the incident shows a silver car driving directly towards the street at a moderate speed as it exits a main road.
A police recovery truck lifts the car after it collided with the gates of Downing Street (PA)Entry to Downing Street is blocked by black gates, which are manned at all times by armed police officers.
In 1991 members of the IRA fired three mortars at the street, one of which exploded in the backyard of Number 10 while Prime Minister John Major was leading a Cabinet meeting inside. Three police officers and a civil servant suffered minor injuries.
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