One held after crashing car into Russian consulate in Sydney

A man was detained on Monday morning after driving his car into the gates of the Russian consulate in Woollahra, Sydney, police said.

New South Wales Police responded shortly after 8 a.m. following reports of an unauthorized vehicle parked in the consulate’s driveway. Officers attempted to speak with the driver, who then rammed his car through the consulate gates.

Witnesses described a tense scene as police repeatedly ordered the driver to exit the vehicle. When he refused, officers drew their firearms to control the situation. “It was quite dramatic on a Monday morning,” said one nearby resident who witnessed the incident.

Television footage showed a white SUV with a smashed window abandoned on the consulate grounds near a Russian flagpole. Police were heard shouting at the man inside the vehicle to get out.

Authorities confirmed a 39-year-old man was arrested at the scene. A 24-year-old police constable sustained a hand injury during the confrontation.

A nearby construction worker reported seeing police taking photographs of the car and noted the arrival of a police helicopter. The damaged vehicle was later removed from the consulate premises by a flatbed truck.

The Russian consulate was briefly closed but has since reopened. Australian Federal Police stated there was “no current or impending threat to the consulate or the local community.”

Attempts to reach consulate officials for comment were unsuccessful.