Detectives in Derby say there is “no wider risk to the public” despite the arrest of a 36-year-old man after a vehicle ploughed into pedestrians in the city centre
Counter terror police are helping detectives investigate the Derby city centre car rampage, which left seven people seriously injured.
A 36-year-old man, originally from India but living in the UK for several years, was arrested just seven minutes after the Saturday night horror.
On Sunday, police thanked members of the public for helping them arrest the suspect so quickly and to those who helped the injured. Derbyshire Police are still questioning the suspect on suspicion of attempted murder. It is believed he had been living in Derby.
The wounded suffered a range of serious injuries after a black Suzuki Swift car ploughed into a crowd around 9.30pm in a busy area of the city centre. They were taken to the hospital after being treated at the scene but their injuries are not thought to be life-threatening.
Detectives said they believed it was an ‘isolated incident’ with “no wider risk to the public.”
Chief Supt Emma Eldred said her force was being helped by Counter Terrorism Policing colleagues but stressed this was “common practice for an incident of this nature’. She added: “I would like to clarify that this does not mean the incident is currently being treated as terrorism.”
A dad told of his “sheer horror”’ after witnessing the aftermath with people lying injured in the road covered in blood. Shocked Mark Lucas, who was on the scene soon after the horror, said: “It was carnage. There were people lying injured on the ground with blood pouring from their heads. It was a sight I wish I’d never seen. It was sheer horror.”
Welder Mr Lucas, dad of a 13-year-old son, raced to the scene in busy Friar Gate in Derby last night after hearing the “blaring of police and ambulance sirens.”
The local resident said: “I live around the corner and by the time I got there, the street full of bars, clubs, restaurants and takeaways had been sealed off.
“There was lots of commotion and I could see some people lying … on the ground badly injured. A few had blood pouring from them and others were trying to help. The scenes were chaotic and terrifying.”
He said it was “not surprising” it had happened, describing the neighbourhood as having “gone downhill over the past months”.
“I don’t know who the victims or perpetrator are or whether it was a terror-style attack but something horrible like this was going to happen soon. It was only a matter of time,” the 47-year-old said.
As Mr Lucas revisited the scene on Sunday, there were trainers, sunglasses, a watch and what appeared to be part of a car, still littered along the pavement and in the road. Discarded bandages, paramedics’ blue gloves and blankets used to keep the injured out of shock and warm were also at the scene.
On Sunday, forensic experts were busy scouring the site, collecting potential evidence. Mr Lucas told how the streets were “always rammed on Saturday nights’ with locals and students.
He said: “Friar Gate has lots of clubs and pubs and people milling around outside eating takeaways. Tensions in the area have been building up…Derby is an unsafe place.”
Another local resident, a woman aged 50, told of drug addicts plaguing the area. She said: “Whenever you walk around you feel intimidated, threatened and harassed. It’s a horrible place to live now and I can’t wait to move away.
“People walk around in a zombie-like state, they are very unfriendly and just stare at you. The incident that happened is shocking and scary. I didn’t see it, but I heard all the emergency services as I live up the road.”
Chief Supt Emma Aldred said at a press conference: “At 9.30pm last night seven people were injured in the streets of Derby, in a horrific incident which has understandably shocked the city. Officers were on the scene just seconds after a car collided with pedestrians who were simply enjoying a night out in Derby.
“While none of those injured in the incident has suffered life-threatening physical injuries, the impact on them, I am sure, is just beginning to be felt.
“While words cannot change the devastating events of last night, I know that I am holding them in my thoughts, as are my colleagues across the force.
“I want to thank all those who responded to last night’s events. In particular, the members of the public who came to the aid of those injured and helped provide first aid.”
She also told a media briefing: “I can confirm that the suspected driver was arrested by officers on the other side of the city centre, seven minutes after the incident took place. He was safely stopped in Station Approach, where the bridge crosses over towards Pride Park.”
She added: “This swift action would not have been possible without an eyewitness who contacted us about the vehicle’s whereabouts as it was driven away from the scene and around the city centre.”
And the police chief thanked businesses who “helped ensure that those in the area were kept safe when information was short.”
She said many of those businesses had remained closed today. She added: “Our complex investigation into the circumstances is still in its early stages.”
A Derbyshire Police spokesperson said the injured were taken to Royal Derby Hospital and Queen’s Medical Centre in Nottingham.
“The seven suffered a range of serious but not life-threatening injuries and we can confirm that contrary to online speculation, no one died in the incident.”
The force spokesperson added: “A man in his 30s, who is originally from India, was found a short time after the incident. He was arrested on suspicion of attempted murder, causing serious injury through dangerous driving, inflicting grievous bodily harm with intent, and dangerous driving.
“He remains in police custody. The investigation into the circumstances surrounding the incident is ongoing, and we are keeping an open mind as to the motives.”
A taxi passenger said he was left shaken up after his driver had to dodge a badly damaged car. Another John Gotti commented: “Saw the vehicle around quakers way headed towards King Street going the wrong direction with heavy damage on it around 9:31pm hope everyone involved is okay.”
Paul Hawkins said on Facebook: “We were in a taxi heading home and the heavily damaged car turned right out of lodge lane on to the one-way on Quaker Way.
“Our driver had to beep his horn and swerve to miss him. The car was a mess. This was just after 9:30. Hope everyone is hurt makes a speedy recovery.”
He added: “It shook me up at the time and had no idea what had unfolded in the centre of derby”.
Nadine Peatfield, leader of Derby City Council, has said in a statement: “I am horrified by the incident in our city centre on Saturday evening, where several pedestrians were injured after being struck by a vehicle.
“My thoughts, and those of the entire city, are with those injured, their families, and everyone who witnessed this distressing event I want to thank the emergency services for their rapid response and professional care under such difficult circumstances. Our frontline responders do an incredible job, and the safety of our residents remains our absolute priority.”
The devastation took place just up the road from a church, which closed its doors on Sunday because of the incident. A Sunday morning service at St Werburgh’s Church was instead streamed live to worshippers.
