Westminster incident: Man arrested after car smashes into Downing Street gates sparking No 10 lockdown

A MAN has been arrested after a car smashed into the gates of Downing Street this afternoon.

Armed cops sealed off Whitehall after the small silver Kia rammed into the famous entrance of the PM’s official residence at 4.20pm.

The Sun understands Rishi Sunak was working in No10 at the time of the crash and that the building was briefly locked down.

He has now left on a pre-arranged visit which was delayed because of the security scare.

Scotland Yard confirmed there were no injuries and that a man has been held on suspicion of criminal damage and dangerous driving.

Footage shows the car driving across the central London road behind the Cenotaph war memorial before careering head-on into the metal gates.

Officers have shut virtually the entire road in Westminster and the Met confirmed that a vehicle had crashed into the gates.

Cops in blue gloves trawled the boot of the hatchback and pulled out what appeared to be a large Sainsbury’s bag, alongside a pair of black trousers and some male shirts.

Scotland Yard said: “At around 16:20hrs a car collided with the gates of Downing Street on Whitehall.

“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.”

Downing Street – which is guarded by gun-carrying cops round-the-clock – has been targeted by terrorists over the years.

IRA extremists notoriously hurled mortar bombs at No10 while Sir John Major was PM in the 1990s.

The Sun

Officers in Downing St around the small car[/caption]

The Sun

Whitehall has been cordoned off[/caption]

The Sun

A small car can be seen at the famous black gates[/caption]