Driver arrested after smashing car into Buckingham Palace entrance
A man has been arrested on suspicion of criminal damage after he drove his car into the gates of Buckingham Palace, causing significant damage to the historic landmark.
The incident occurred around 2:30 a.m. on Saturday, when the driver, who has not been named, crashed his vehicle into the main entrance of the royal residence in central London, according to police sources.
The driver was arrested by armed officers at the scene and taken to a hospital for a mental health assessment, the Metropolitan Police said in a statement.
He was later released on bail pending further inquiries.
No one was injured in the crash, and the police said it was not being treated as a terrorist incident. However, the impact of the collision left the metal gates bent and the stone pillars cracked, forcing the palace to board up the entrance and erect temporary fencing.
The palace, which is the official residence of Queen Elizabeth II and a popular tourist attraction, was closed to the public on Saturday due to the damage.
It is expected to reopen on Sunday, but visitors will have to use a different entrance.
The police said they were investigating the motive and circumstances of the crash, and appealed for any witnesses or anyone with information to come forward.
The incident is the latest in a series of security breaches and vandalism at the palace, which has raised questions about the adequacy of its protection.
In 2013, a man scaled the perimeter fence and was found inside the palace grounds.
He was arrested and later pleaded guilty to trespassing.
Another similar occurrence happened in 2016, a man was arrested after he climbed over the wall and walked around the gardens for 10 minutes before being detained by police.
In 2019, a 22-year-old man was arrested after he climbed over the front gates and banged on the doors of the palace.
He was later released without charge.
The palace has also been targeted by protesters and activists, who have spray-painted slogans, thrown paint bombs, and staged demonstrations outside the gates.
