British Prime Minister David Cameron was ambushed on the streets of Leeds by an angry member of the public who bypassed his security team and shoved him to the side.
Mr. Cameron managed to avoid falling down, The Telegraph noted.
Police say the suspect, 28, was taken into custody — but later released, The Telegraph reported. Police, meanwhile, downplayed the security breach.
“Nothing sinister,” tweeted West Yorkshire police, The Telegraph reported. “Just a man in the wrong place at the wrong time.”
Mr. Cameron was in Leeds to announce some government upgrades to rail links near England.
Chief Inspector Derek Hughes said of the incident: “Around midday, a 28-year-old local man was briefly arrested after he came close to the prime minister’s group who had just left the civic hall in Leeds. No threats were made and after the man’s details were checked, he was de-arrested and allowed on his way,” The Telegraph said.
Another media outlet reported the man was a jogger, and that Mr. Cameron actually tried to avoid him as he approached.
The incident comes on the heels of a handful of high-profile U.S. Secret Service security lapses at the White House that saw fence-jumpers sprinting across the lawn — and in one instance, actually entering the building and making it down one hallway.
• Cheryl K. Chumley can be reached at cchumley@washingtontimes.com.
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