Downing St hammer attack

A man launched a dramatic sledgehammer attack on the gates of Downing Street today.

He struck at 6.20am and was immediately arrested by armed police.

A full security operation was put in place. Whitehall was sealed off and the area searched for other possible attackers or terrorist devices.

The man's car was found and, as a precaution, police carried out a controlled explosion on the vehicle. A police spokesman said: "It has caused quite a bit of chaos. The attacker was arrested and immediately taken to a central London police station." The sledgehammer attack is the latest in a series of demonstrations, but the reason for today's raid is unclear.

In February, anti-war demonstrators dressed as judges launched a white paint attack on the gates. They were erected in 1989 after the Inglis Barracks bombing by Irish terrorists.