A driver reportedly rammed his vehicle into the gates of Buckingham Palace with armed police rushing to the scene.
The incident, which took place on Saturday, March 9, saw the driver surrounded by armed police as he got down on his knees. Cops were shouting “Keep your hands on your head” as they responded to the loud ‘bang’ heard when the crash took place.
Officers swooped in after the vehicle rammed into the main entrance of the royal residence, which is based in Westminster, central London.
A man has been arrested on suspicion of criminal damage, police have announced.
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A witness to the incident, who wished to remain anonymous, said he watched the scene unfold around 2:30am after hearing “a loud bang”.
“I heard a loud bang, and I looked over and the car had crashed into Buckingham Palace,” he said.
He added: “Police were on the scene pretty quickly – and they got the man out and arrested him.”
A spokesperson for Metropolitan Police said: “At approximately 02:33hrs on Saturday, 09 March a car collided with the gates of Buckingham Palace.
“Armed officers arrested a man at the scene on suspicion of criminal damage. He was taken to hospital.
“There were no reports of any injuries. Enquiries are ongoing to establish the circumstances.”
It’s not the first time a car has plowed into the gates of Buckingham Palace. Witnesses described a ‘scary’ incident from 2018, where a vehicle – initially thought to be an Uber – slammed into the fence.
Shortly after 12.30am on March 4, six years ago, the accident terrified people nearby.
One person tweeted at the time: “So scary. Loads of police here. Being told to move back by the police.”
Cops rushed in after the car mounted the pavement and considered it an isolated accident, stating they didn’t believe it was a deliberate act of violence or a terrorist attack.
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At the time, the Met Police said: “Police were called to Spur Road, SW1A at 22:49hrs on Saturday, 3 March after a car was involved in a collision with street railings.
“Officers and London Ambulance Service attended.
“There are no reported injuries and the driver is out of the vehicle and being spoken to by police.
“No arrests have been made. Enquiries continue.
“This incident is being treated as a road traffic collision.”
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