Man arrested after fire started near gates of Buckingham Palace

The 30-year-old was held on suspicion of causing criminal damage.

Man arrested after fire started near gates of Buckingham Palace iStock

A man has been arrested after a small fire was started near the gates of Buckingham Palace.

The 30-year-old was held shortly after 10pm on Tuesday on suspicion of causing criminal damage.

Footage on social media appeared to show an officer bundling a man to the ground as a small fire burned near one of the gates.

The Metropolitan Police said in a statement: “Shortly after 10.08pm on Tuesday, December 20, a 30-year-old man was arrested on suspicion of causing criminal damage after a small fire was seen near the Buckingham Palace gates.

“The man was taken into custody. The fire was extinguished.”