Moment car-ramming suspect ‘races away from the scene’ after ‘ploughing into pedestrians’ in Derby city centre
The footage shows the moment a driver crashed into pedestrians and sped away from the scene in Derby city center last night.
Seven people were seriously injured when a black Suzuki Swift crashed into a crowd in the Friar Gate area of the city around 9.30pm.
A 36-year-old man, originally from India, was arrested on suspicion of attempted murder, causing serious injury, causing grievous bodily harm with intent and dangerous driving.
CCTV footage obtained by the Daily Mail shows the moment a Suzuki Swift was seen racing down the road just after the incident, which left several people lying on the ground.
A silver car is seen driving along the road at a normal speed, and a few minutes later the black car darts onto the street.
After the Suzuki Swift passes, witnesses stop in the middle of the road to assess what happened and then head down the street toward the scene of the attack.
This afternoon Derbyshire Constabulary said it was carrying out the investigation ‘with the support of Counter Terrorism Police colleagues’.
Although they do not currently believe the incident is terrorism-related, officers are keeping an ‘open mind about possible motives’.
The footage shows the moment a driver crashed into pedestrians and sped away from the scene in Derby city center last night.
Seven people were seriously injured when a black Suzuki Swift crashed into pedestrians in Derby.
The scene at Friar’s Gate after a car hit several pedestrians yesterday
Eyewitnesses said they saw people lying on the ground after the incident last night.
Local resident Mark Lucas, 47, told the Daily Mail: ‘This was a massacre. The injured were lying on the ground with blood flowing from their heads.
‘It was a sight I wish I had never seen. “It was absolute horror.”
Detectives on Sunday appealed for more footage that could help their investigation, especially those who captured the incident.
A statement said: ‘Friar Gate was busy with revelers at the time and although some witnesses have already contacted us we would now urge anyone who has not yet done so to do so now.
‘We would also like to hear from motorists who were in the area at the time and may have dashcam footage taken before or after the Suzuki Swift.
‘The suspect is thought to have traveled away from the city center along Friar Gate towards Ashbourne Road, then onto Bridge Street, Lodge Lane, Five Lamps, Garden Street and Duffield Road before heading towards St Alkmund’s Way.
‘The vehicle, which was visibly damaged, was safely stopped by police at the Station Approach a short time later en route to Pride Park.
‘If you have any mobile phone, dashcam or CCTV footage that may be helpful please contact us using one of the methods listed below.’
Nearby roads covering a wide area from Curzon Street to Ford Street have been closed and are expected to remain closed for some time.
The suspect, who was taken into custody, is still being processed by the police.
Mr Lucas continued: ‘I live around the corner and when I got there the street, full of bars, clubs, restaurants and takeaways, was blocked off.
‘There was a lot of chaos and I could see some people lying on the ground injured, seriously injured.
‘A few of them were bleeding and others were trying to help. The scenes were chaotic and frightening.
‘Someone said a man deliberately walked into a crowd of people. Shocking but not surprising.
‘This neighborhood has deteriorated in recent months and there are many immigrants and hostility in the area.
‘I don’t know who the victims or perpetrators were, whether it was a terrorist style attack or not, but something terrible like this was going to happen soon. “It was just a matter of time.”
Mr Lucas described how the streets were ‘always packed with locals and students on Saturday nights’.
He said: ‘Friar Gate has lots of clubs, bars and people eating takeaways out. Tension is escalating in the region.
‘There are so many immigrants here, so many that even the municipality is trying to get rid of some of them, and there is a lot of local unrest.
A police cordon was set up at the scene in Derby, where many people were injured yesterday.
Forensic investigators arrived at the scene this morning after seven people were injured.
Mark Lucas, 47, said he saw people lying on the ground after being hit by the car.
‘The war in the Middle East has made people even more anxious and distressed. Derby is an unsafe place.’
Another resident, a 50-year-old woman, said: ‘Unfortunately the city, especially this area, is full of immigrants and drug addicts.
‘When you walk around you feel intimidated, threatened and harassed.’
The woman, who did not want to be named, said: ‘This is a terrible place to live and I can’t wait to move away.
‘People are walking around zombie-like, very unfriendly and just staring at you.
‘I’m not being racist, but there are too many immigrants living here who are not integrated and this has divided the city.
‘The incident is shocking and frightening. ‘I didn’t see it but when I lived up the road I heard all the emergency services.’
Aerial view of the scene where 7 people were injured when a car hit pedestrians in Derby
Flowers were left at the scene this morning after seven people were found to have been injured.
Forensic investigators examined the scene after the incident in Derby last night.
Local resident Kate Lowe, who only heard about the incident this morning, described it as a ‘huge shock’.
‘As someone who has lived in Derby for years, this is a huge shock… I don’t know why anyone would want to do this,’ he said.
One churchgoer, who asked not to be named, said: ‘I think this is unusual for the city.
‘As a church community that comes together here, this is a real shock. This is not what we expected. ‘We are thinking and praying for everyone affected.’
A takeaway owner has described his shock after seeing the Derby car driver mow down the victims: ‘It was horrific!’
Muharem Çelebi, who was busy working at the time, said that he did not hear shouts or screams, but he was aware of the chaos outside with the sound of sirens.
He said: ‘I ran outside and saw about six people lying on the road and pavement.
‘Some of them were bleeding from their heads, it was horrific and shocking to see.
‘The police and ambulance were already there when I went out and offered help.
‘Someone else had raised the alarm and emergency services responded very quickly.’
Çelebi, who runs the popular Derby Grill, said: ‘It was a busy Saturday night as always and it is very sad that people having a good time were harmed in this way.
‘This is a frightening sign of the times we live in.
‘Everyone is grateful that the police caught the man believed responsible so quickly and that he could not harm anyone else.’
Medical student Mike McCluskey, who owns the 60-room accommodation block at the top of the short street where the incident occurred, said: ‘It’s awful that it’s on our doorstep and in a busy area.’
The mature student, 39, said: ‘It’s very scary. I didn’t see anything but I heard sirens and saw flashing blue lights.
‘I didn’t think anything of it as police sirens were frequently blaring in the area. However, a fellow student said to me, “I hope you are well!” When he texted me, I realized something bad had happened.
‘I only found this out when I saw the local news.
‘We don’t know who the victims are and we hope no university students were involved but it could have been anyone.
‘I often go for a run around these streets to go shopping and I could easily be in the wrong place at the time.’
He said he was “not aware of any racial tensions” in the area and that “nobody had any idea of a possible motive” for the attacks.
Seven victims were treated at the scene and taken to hospital; There were several serious but non-life-threatening injuries.
Superintendent Emma Aldred, who leads the force in Derby, told a media briefing that the suspected driver was arrested on the other side of the city center seven minutes after the incident.
He said: ‘He was stopped safely at the Station Approach where the bridge crosses towards Pride Park.
‘This swift action would not have been possible without the witnesses who contacted us with the whereabouts of the vehicle as it was driven away from the scene and around the city centre.’
He added that the victims were ‘just enjoying the night’ at the time of the attack.
Police believe this is an isolated incident and there is no wider risk to the public.
Local paramedics were called after a car plowed into a group of people in Derby last night.
Forensic investigators carrying evidence bags at the crime scene in Friar Gate
In a statement, Derbyshire Police said: ‘Derbyshire detectives are leading the investigation with support from Counter Terrorism Police colleagues, which is common practice in an incident of this nature, and are keeping an open mind about possible motives.
‘Although Counter Terrorism officers are assisting us with these initial investigations, this does not mean the incident is currently being treated as terrorism.’
Derby North Labor MP Catherine Atkinson said she was ‘deeply shocked’ by the incident.
In a statement shared online, he added: ‘My thoughts are with those injured and I am grateful to our emergency services.
‘Please follow police advice and avoid the area. Anyone with information should contact them as soon as possible.’
Education Minister Bridget Phillipson told the BBC’s program with Laura Kuenssberg on Sunday: ‘My thoughts are with everyone who has been affected by this, those who have been injured or injured and their family members at this really difficult time.’
He added: ‘Police are actively investigating. We do not believe there is any broader reason for the public to panic.
‘The police have made an arrest and the Minister of Internal Affairs is being informed about this.’
Derby South MP Baggy Shanker said his thoughts were with ‘everyone affected and their loved ones’.
Anyone with information can contact Derbyshire Police via their website, via private message on Facebook or by calling 101 quoting incident 1131 of 28 March.
They can also contact independent charity Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111 or by visiting their website.
