A man of Indian origin was arrested on Saturday night (the 28th) in Derby, United Kingdom, on suspicion of attempted murder after a car ran over several pedestrians on one of the county’s busiest streets. Derbyshire Police said seven people suffered “a series of serious injuries, but not fatal.” Contrary to online speculation, there were no deaths, according to authorities.
Police stopped a car believed to have been involved shortly after the incident, which occurred on Friar Gate around 9:30 p.m. While investigators are in contact with counter-terrorism units, police have not yet classified the incident as a terrorist attack, but are “keeping an open mind about possible motives.”
The driver of the black Suzuki Swift was arrested on suspicion of attempted murder, causing serious injuries by dangerous driving, causing serious bodily harm with intent, and dangerous driving. He was taken into police custody.
According to the BBC, police described the suspect as a 36-year-old man from Derby, originally from India, but who has lived in the United Kingdom for several years.
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The victims were attended to on the spot by ambulance crews before being taken to Royal Derby Hospital and the Queen’s Medical Centre in Nottingham, the police added. The force’s statement said: “While we know this will be alarming, we would like to reassure people that we do not believe there is an ongoing risk to the public.”
According to the newspaper The Guardian, a person who arrived at the scene shortly after the incident told the Derby Telegraph that there were “people on the ground” lying in the street. “It was such a frightening experience. We turned the corner and there were people all over. We didn’t realize what had happened and then gradually understood that it was something bad.”
Witnesses also described seeing debris scattered along the road after the incident, and said that nearby people were crying, describing those present as “shaken” and “in a panic.”
