UK: Ukrainian Embassy says ambassador's car rammed

By Ahmet Gurhan Kartal

LONDON (AA) – The official car of Ukraine's ambassador to London was “deliberately rammed” while parked outside the embassy building, the country's embassy said Saturday.

The incident took place around 10 a.m. local time (0900GMT), an embassy statement said.

“The police were called immediately, and the suspect’s vehicle was blocked up,” it said.

Police had to open fire on the car when the driver, despite the police presence, attacked the ambassadorial car again.

“The culprit was apprehended and taken to a police station,” the statement added.

It said: “No one of the Embassy staff were injured.

“The police are investigating the suspect’s identity and motive for the attack.”

A Metropolitan Police statement later said they were called at "approximately 08:30hrs on Saturday, 13 April to reports of a car in collision with a number of parked vehicles near the Ukrainian Embassy in Holland Park."

"As part of the protective security arrangements for London, armed and unarmed officers were deployed to this incident," it said.

However, "on arrival at the scene, a vehicle was driven at police officers" and "firearms and Taser were discharged, the vehicle was stopped and a man, aged in his 40s, was arrested," according to the police.

The man was not injured and he has been "taken to a central London hospital as a precaution."

The incident is not being treated as terrorist-related by the police, Chief Superintendent Andy Walker said.