Man arrested for crashing car into Russian consulate in Sydney

1/9/2025 12:37

A man was arrested on Monday after ramming his car into the gates of the Russian consulate in Sydney, Australian police said.



The police diplomatic protection unit responded to a request for assistance from the Russian consulate after an unauthorised vehicle was parked in the driveway, an Australian Federal Police spokesperson said in a statement.



New South Wales Police said its officers responded shortly after 8 a.m. and attempted to speak to the driver before he drove his vehicle into the gates of the consulate in the Sydney suburb of Woollahra.



A neighbour who witnessed the incident said he saw the car force its way through the gates after the driver was instructed to step out of the vehicle.



"The policemen continued to ask him to get out of the car. He didn't get out of the car. They drew their firearms," he said, declining to give his name.



"It was quite dramatic on a Monday morning."



Television footage from Australian networks Sky News and Nine showed a white SUV with a smashed window abandoned next to a Russian flagpole on the consulate grounds.