A man was being held on suspicion of attempted murder after a car was driven at police officers outside the Ukrainian Embassy in west London.

Police fired gunshots during the incident in Holland Park on Saturday. Officers had been called because the ambassador's car was being "deliberately rammed".

Scotland Yard said a vehicle was driven at officers when they arrived at the scene. Witnesses have said at least 10 shots were fired.

A man in his 40s was arrested on suspicion of the attempted murder of police officers, as well as criminal damage.

The Met said it also used a Taser, while confirming the incident was not terror-related.

The embassy said in a statement on Saturday afternoon: "Around 10am on Saturday, April 13, the official vehicle of the Ambassador of Ukraine to the United Kingdom was deliberately rammed as it sat parked in front of the Embassy of Ukraine’s building.

"The police were called immediately, and the suspect’s vehicle was blocked up.

"Nevertheless, despite the police actions, the attacker hit the Ambassador’s car again. In response, the police were forced to open fire on the perpetrator’s vehicle. The culprit was apprehended and taken to a police station."

Ukrainian Embassy attack 4 show all Ukrainian Embassy attack 1/4 Police opened fire on a silver Mercedes SplashNews.com 2/4 The car was pictured at the scene with its tyres blown out SplashNews.com 3/4 Forensic investigators at the scene of the shooting SplashNews.com 4/4 The ambassador's car was rammed twice SplashNews.com 1/4 Police opened fire on a silver Mercedes SplashNews.com 2/4 The car was pictured at the scene with its tyres blown out SplashNews.com 3/4 Forensic investigators at the scene of the shooting SplashNews.com 4/4 The ambassador's car was rammed twice SplashNews.com

It added: "No one of the Embassy staff were injured. The police are investigating the suspect’s identity and motive for the attack."

The Met confirmed in its statement that police firearms, as well as a Taser, were used before the man was arrested.

He was taken to hospital as a precaution, but was not injured.

Ch Supt Andy Walker, from the Met's specialist firearms command, said: "As is standard procedure, an investigation is now ongoing into the discharge of a police firearm during this incident.

"While this takes place, I would like to pay tribute to the officers involved this morning who responded swiftly to this incident and put themselves in harm's way - as they do every day - to keep the people of London safe."

Eight police cars remained at the scene of the cordon in Holland Park, yards from the Tube station, on Saturday afternoon.

Emma Slatter, who is Visa's general counsel, watched the scene unfold with her partner David Hinsley, a banker who is also in his 50s.

She said: "We could see two police cars at this end of the road and one about half way down looking the other way.

"It seems like he was moving erratically or wanting to move away from being boxed in, maybe not realising there were police behind him as well.

"That was when he collided backwards. I think I heard about half a dozen shots."

She continued: "The police seemed in charge. There were probably about eight to 10 guys in full body armour, some with sub-machine guns.

"He [the suspect] was stumbling but he wasn't resisting. We thought he might've been shot but there wasn't any evidence of any blood.

"They frogmarched him into the back of the police van."

Mary Romer Greenfield told the Standard: "The lower end of our road was cordoned off by several police cars and three ambulances surrounding the Ukraine Embassy.

"Our neighbour witnessed several shots on the windscreen of this car."

Hiroaki Katayama also said on Twitter that at least 10 shots were fired in the incident.

The embassies of Greece, Cameroon and Uzbekistan are also in Holland Park.

Did you see the shooting? Email the newsdesk: james.morris@standard.co.uk