Derbyshire detectives are leading the investigation with the support of Counter Terrorism Policing colleagues but said that didn’t mean the incident was “currently being treated as terrorism”
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A forensic investigator at the scene in Friar Gate, Derby, where a number of people had been injured, some of them seriously, but not life-threatening, after being hit by a car in the city centre on Saturday night.
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Alamy
A man has been arrested after a car hit pedestrians in Derby city centre, leaving seven people injured.
Derbyshire detectives are leading the investigation with the support of Counter Terrorism Policing colleagues but said that didn’t mean the incident was “currently being treated as terrorism”.
The incident involved a black Suzuki Swift and happened in Friar Gate at about 9.30pm on Saturday evening.
Seven people were treated at the scene by ambulance crews for non life-threatening injuries and taken to Royal Derby Hospital and Queen’s Medical Centre in Nottingham.
A man in his 30s, who is originally from India but had lived in the UK for a number of years, was found a short time after the incident when officers stopped a vehicle believed to be involved.
He was arrested on suspicion of attempted murder, causing serious injury through dangerous driving, inflicting grievous bodily harm with intent, and dangerous driving.
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Police forensic officers work amongst a variety of personal items seen covering the road, inside a cordon set up on Friar Gate in central Derby.
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Getty
Flowers have been laid at the police cordon.
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LBC
The man remains in police custody while the investigation into the circumstances surrounding the incident continues.
Derbyshire detectives are leading the investigation with the support of Counter Terrorism Policing colleagues but said that didn’t mean the incident was “currently being treated as terrorism” – adding they “do not believe there is an ongoing risk to the public”.
They added: “Our investigation is in its early stages but we want to hear from anyone who saw a black Suzuki Swift being driven in Derby around the time of the incident.”
Chief Superintendent Emma Aldred, who leads policing in the city, said: “Firstly I would like to send my best wishes to the people who were injured, their friends and families, and to the public who witnessed what will have been a very traumatic thing to see.
“I know this incident will have sent shockwaves through our communities but I would like to reassure people that we have a dedicated team of detectives working on it.
Shoes and blankets at the scene in Friar Gate, Derby, where a number of people had been injured after being hit by a car in the city centre on Saturday night.
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Alamy
“Thanks to the fast actions of officers, working on eyewitness information from the public, we were able to quickly arrest the suspect in the city just a few minutes after the incident took place.
“I also want to thank the members of the public and staff from local businesses in Friar Gate, who helped officers with first aid in the immediate aftermath of the incident.”
A resident told LBC that the street is popular with students and gets “very busy, especially on Saturday nights”.
The driver, a man in his 30s, was arrested and is in police custody.
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LBC
An eye-witness told The Mirror that the scene was “absolute carnage”. They said: “It was utterly horrific. People were laying on the pavement covered in blood and on the road.”
Labour MP, Catherine Atkinson, said “I am deeply shocked by reports that people have been injured in a serious incident in Derby city centre this evening.“My thoughts are with those injured and I’m grateful to our emergency services.
Baggy Shanker, the MP for Derby South, said his thoughts were with “everyone who has been affected and with their loved ones”.
People are urged to avoid the area as Friar Gate is completely closed from the junction with Curzon Street/Cheapside up to Ford Street.