Police officers work near to a car, seen at the gates of Downing Street, on Whitehall in central London, after crashing into the front gates of Downing Street, the official residence of Britain’s Prime Minister. (Photo: JUSTIN TALLIS / AFP)

A car collided on Thursday with the front gates of Downing Street, where Prime Minister Rishi Sunak’s office and residence is based, London police said, adding one person had been arrested on suspicion of dangerous driving.

“At around 16:20 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,” police said in a statement. “There are no reports of any injuries.”

Police said enquiries were ongoing.

A Reuters witness said there was a small vehicle outside the gate, with its doors and trunk open. BBC television footage showed the vehicle approaching the gate at a low speed.

Sunak’s office declined to comment.

Police initially put in place a cordon blocking traffic along Whitehall, a main road running past Downing Street where several government departments are based.

The current terrorism threat level in Britain is “substantial”, meaning an attack is considered likely.

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