Watch: Armed police swoop after car crashes into Buckingham Palace gates

A motorist has been arrested after a car crashed into the gates of Buckingham Palace.

The footage above shows armed police surrounding a driver, who is on his knees, yelling: “Keep your hands on your head!”

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

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.”

The Met said there were no reports of any injuries.

A spokesperson for the force said: “At approximately 2.33am 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.

“There were no reports of any injuries. Enquiries are ongoing to establish the circumstances.”