Ambulance personel push a woman on a stretcher at the scene of an incident in central London, Saturday, Oct. 7, 2017. London police say emergency services are outside the Natural History Museum in London after a car struck pedestrians. (AP Photo/Kirsty Wigglesworth)
The Associated Press
LONDON (AP) - British emergency services raced to London's Natural History Museum after a car struck pedestrians Saturday outside the building. Police said a number of people were injured and one person was detained at the scene.
The crash happened at 2:20 p.m. on a day when the central London museum is usually teeming with pedestrians, including international tourists.
Photographs showed a dented silver car and a man being pinned to the ground outside the museum.
Witness Katie Craine said she was coming out of the museum when she saw a man in handcuffs being pinned down on the ground by police near a damaged car.
"He looked really proud of himself," she said. "He was laughing."
The London Ambulance Service was tending to the injured. There was no immediate statement on the number or severity of the injuries.
Shopkeepers in the immediate area were told to evacuate and police established a large security cordon around the area minutes after the incident, closing some roads. Police helicopters circled the scene overhead.
Police said they are working to establish the circumstances of the crash and more information will be provided once details are clear.
The Natural History Museum tweeted that there had been a "serious incident" outside the museum, which is located near the world famous Victoria and Albert Museum and other attractions.
Downing Street said British Prime Minister Theresa May was being briefed on the incident.
London's official terrorist threat level has been set at "severe," indicating an attack is highly likely.
There have been a series of terror attacks on London and Manchester this year, including vehicle attacks on pedestrians at Westminster Bridge and London Bridge.
Britain's police and emergency services at the scene of an incident in central London, Saturday, Oct. 7, 2017. London police say emergency services are outside the Natural History Museum in London after a car struck pedestrians. (AP Photo/Kirsty Wigglesworth)
The Associated Press
Britain's police cars at the scene of an incident in central London, Saturday, Oct. 7, 2017. London police say emergency services are outside the Natural History Museum in London after a car struck pedestrians. (AP Photo/Kirsty Wigglesworth)
The Associated Press
Britain's Police at the scene of an incident in central London, Saturday, Oct. 7, 2017. London police say emergency services are outside the Natural History Museum in London after a car struck pedestrians. (AP Photo/Alastair Grant)
The Associated Press
A forensic officer and two police women stand at the scene of an incident in central London, Saturday, Oct. 7, 2017. London police say emergency services are outside the Natural History Museum in London after a car struck pedestrians. (AP Photo/Kirsty Wigglesworth)
The Associated Press
Britain's Police and a forensic investigator at the scene of an incident in central London, Saturday, Oct. 7, 2017. London police say emergency services are outside the Natural History Museum in London after a car struck pedestrians. (AP Photo/Alastair Grant)
The Associated Press
Ambulance personnel push a woman on a stretcher at the scene of an incident in central London, Saturday, Oct. 7, 2017. London police say emergency services are outside the Natural History Museum in London after a car struck pedestrians. (AP Photo/Kirsty Wigglesworth)
The Associated Press
Britain's policemen stand at the scene of an incident in central London, Saturday, Oct. 7, 2017. London police say emergency services are outside the Natural History Museum in London after a car struck pedestrians. (AP Photo/Kirsty Wigglesworth)
The Associated Press
Armed police at the scene on Cromwell Gardens in London, near where people were injured after a car reportedly ploughed into people outside London's Natural History Museum, Saturday Oct. 7, 2017. Police say a number of people have been injured and one person has been detained at the scene. The crash happened at 2:20 p.m. on a day when the central London museum is usually teeming with pedestrians including international tourists .(Henry Vaughan/PA via AP)
The Associated Press
Britain's policemen at the scene of an incident in central London, Saturday, Oct. 7, 2017. London police say emergency services are outside the Natural History Museum in London after a car struck pedestrians. (AP Photo/Kirsty Wigglesworth)
The Associated Press