Copycat U-Haul Incident: Car Rams UK Prime Minister’s Residence Gate

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In London, a car crashed into the gates of Downing Street, where Prime Minister Rishi Sunak lives and works. The vehicle got beyond a low barrier that prevents traffic from turning into the street but was stopped before the main black wrought-iron security gates. Video shows a small silver Kia driving at a slow speed across Whitehall Street, before crashing. The vehicle was thought to come from a parking lot next to the main building of the Ministry of Defense.

A copycat U-Haul moving van crash occurred in Washington DC, Monday night. The driver was also arrested.

The UK incident was not classified as a terrorist act. The suspect was arrested on charges of criminal damage and dangerous driving.

The car was taken away from the scene about two hours after it occurred.

Number 10 is the official residence and office of the UK Prime minister. After the building had been locked, the Prime Minister who was inside Number 10 at the time of the accident was evacuated.

Downing Street is heavily fortified. Vehicles are not allowed in the building since the 1970s. The current security gates were installed in 1980, but the security was increased in 1991 after a mortar attack by the Irish Republican Army, during a period known as The Troubles.

A statement was released by the UK Metropolitan Police of Westminster regarding this incident.

Around 16.20 hours, a car crashed through the gates at Downing Street. An armed officer arrested a man on the spot for criminal damage and dangerous driving. There were no injuries reported. The investigation is still ongoing.

A small perimeter is still in place outside Downing Street after a collision this afternoon between a car and the gates. Westminster Police are handling the incident. It’s not being treated like a terror incident.

Following the incident, a large section of Whitehall Street was closed and is now open to the public.

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