A motorist has been arrested after crashing a car - into Buckingham Palace gates.

Dramatic footage shows armed police surrounding the driver who is on his knees and yelling "keep your hands on your head!"."

Officers swooped after the vehicle rammed into the main entrance gates of the royal residence in Westminster, central London.

The Met Police said a man had been arrested on suspicion of criminal damage.



A witness to the incident, who wished to remain anonymous, said he watched the scene unfold at around 2:30am Saturday (March 9) after hearing ‘a loud bang’.



He said: "I heard a loud bang, and I looked over and the car had crashed into Buckingham Palace."

"Police were on the scene pretty quickly – and they got the man out and arrested him." "

The Met said there were no reports of any injuries.



A spokesperson for the force 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."