Buckingham Palace crash: Car careers into gates - video as armed police make arrest

A car smashed into the gates of Buckingham Palace in the early hours of Saturday morning (March 9). The drama unfolded at around 2.30am as what appears to be a small car careered into the gates at King Charles' official residence, prompting a swift response from armed police.

Video taken at the time shows officers with machine guns surrounding a person, who is on their knees, shouting, “Keep your hands on your head”. The Met Police said a man had been arrested on suspicion of criminal damage.

A witness to the incident, did not wish to be named, 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.”

Officers arrested the man at the scene and he was taken to hospital, the Metropolitan Police said. After being assessed, the man was sectioned under the Mental Health Act. He has since been released on bail, the force said.

Scotland Yard said there were no reports of any injuries, adding that inquiries are ongoing to establish the circumstances of the incident. A spokesperson for the Met Police said: “At around 2.35am on Saturday March 9, 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 where, following assessment, he was sectioned under the Mental Health Act. He has been released on bail and enquiries continue. The matter is not being treated as terror-related.”