Police opened fire on a vehicle outside the Ukrainian embassy in west London after the driver deliberately and repeatedly rammed into the official car of the country's UK ambassador.
An official statement from the embassy said officers were called to the scene in the Holland Park area on Saturday morning after the perpetrator refused to believe that the building was the Ukrainian embassy and not the Ecuadorian embassy.
The vehicle was also driven at police officers, which the embassy said forced them "to open fire on the perpetrator's vehicle".
Scotland Yard confirmed that a man in his 40s was arrested at the scene and taken to a central London hospital as a precaution, following the use of firearms and a taser.
Chief Superintendent Andy Walker, from the Met's specialist firearms command, said: "The perpetrator appeared to be confused, believing that he was outside the Ecuadorian embassy. He claimed that he had been sent to liberate his friend Julian Assange who was being held against his will."
How could a santa rescue mission go so wrong? Was the perpetrator saying he was an Elf, who looked strangely like the drummer for the Red Hot Chilli Peppers?
How could a santa rescue mission go so wrong? Was the perpetrator saying he was an Elf, who looked strangely like the drummer for the Red Hot Chilli Peppers?
Did he not see the bit where he was arrested? I'd have at least a quid on Assange being in a prison cell somewhere, not the embassy, Ukrainian or Ecuadorean.
Did he not see the bit where he was arrested? I'd have at least a quid on Assange being in a prison cell somewhere, not the embassy, Ukrainian or Ecuadorean.
A man who was arrested following an incident outside the Ukrainian embassy in west London on Saturday has been sectioned under the Mental Health Act.
The 40-year-old man will be taken to hospital for treatment, the Metropolitan Police has said.
A man who was arrested following an incident outside the Ukrainian embassy in west London on Saturday has been sectioned under the Mental Health Act.The 40-year-old man will be taken to hospital for treatment, the Metropolitan Police has said.