Police issue major update on Derby city centre incident after 7 people were left injured | UK | News
A 36-year-old man has been charged after seven people were injured in a car-involved incident in Derby at the weekend, police said. Sandhu Ponnachan, of Chariot Close, Alvaston, has been charged with six counts of causing grievous bodily harm with intent, one count of attempted grievous bodily harm, one count of dangerous driving and one count of possession of a bladed article, Derbyshire Police said on Tuesday night (March 31).
The detained person is expected to appear at South Derbyshire Magistrates’ Court on Wednesday. Police said counter-terrorism officers were assisting with the investigation after seven people were injured – some seriously – “after Suzuki Swift collided with several pedestrians” outside Bishop Blaise in Friar’s Gate at around 9.30pm on Saturday, March 28. All seven people, four men and three women, aged between 36 and 52, were taken to hospital with serious but non-life-threatening injuries. Derbyshire Police said four people have since been discharged.
Ponnachan, who is originally from India but now lives in Derby, was arrested seven minutes after the incident.
Chief Inspector Emma Aldred said in a statement on Tuesday night: “This incident has naturally sent shockwaves through the Derby community and the borough as a whole.
“My thoughts and those of the wider team are with each of the seven injured people, their families and witnesses at the scene.
“I would like to reiterate my thanks to everyone who assisted with our investigation – the public, partner organisations, local businesses as well as the media and the wider community for their patience and understanding as we worked to obtain a charge.
“Whilst today’s charge is positive news and news that I hope will bring some degree of reassurance, the investigation into the incident is ongoing and I would once again appeal for anyone with any information to come forward.
“In closing, now that charges have been laid, I would ask for the public’s cooperation in allowing the judicial process to proceed without any speculation, online or elsewhere, that could hinder the pursuit of justice for all those affected.”
Janine McKinney, of the Crown Prosecution Service, said: “Our prosecutors worked to establish that there was sufficient evidence to take the case to court and that it was in the public interest to continue the criminal investigation.
“We worked carefully with Derbyshire Police as they carried out their investigation.”
Derbyshire Police is appealing for anyone who has footage of the incident or who can assist the investigation to contact police quoting incident number 1131 of 28 March.
The force has previously said support from counter-terrorism officers did not mean the incident was being treated as terrorism.
