Intruder with knife scales No 10 railings

Security at Downing Street is under review after an intruder with a large kitchen knife climbed into a secure area near No 10. Police officers had to overpower and arrest the man after he scaled 2m (6ft) iron railings.

The Prime Minister is understood to have been in at the time, but Scotland Yard said there was never any threat to his safety. Detectives are satisfied there is no terrorist link to the incident.

The alert began at 10.35pm on Sunday night when the 32-year-old intruder scaled railings between Horse Guards Road and Horse Guards Parade at a point less than 100 metres from the last house on Downing Street.

Police were alerted as soon as he dropped to the ground into what is known as the "L-shaped road" to the side of the Prime Minister's residence. As soon as he landed, he was challenged by an officer of the Met's Diplomatic Protection Group.

The intruder tried to lunge at the officer, but it is not thought that he wielded his knife during the brief struggle that followed.