Police on Sunday questioned a 36-year-old man arrested on suspicion of attempted murder after a car drove into pedestrians on a street in central Derby, injuring seven people. Chief Superintendent Emma Aldred said officers regard the episode as an “isolated incident” and that there is “no wider risk to the public.”
Counter-terrorism detectives are supporting the inquiry, but authorities said they were keeping an open mind about the motive. Aldred said involving counter-terror teams was “common practice for an incident of this nature” and added: “I would like to clarify that this does not mean the incident is currently being treated as terrorism.”
Police said the suspect was detained shortly after the incident on suspicion of attempted murder, causing serious injury by dangerous driving, inflicting grievous bodily harm with intent, and dangerous driving. The man is a 36-year-old Derby resident who has lived in the UK “for a number of years,” Aldred said. The Home Office declined to disclose his immigration or citizenship status, saying the police are leading the investigation and ministers are being kept updated.
Seven people suffered “serious but not life-threatening injuries” when a black Suzuki Swift struck several pedestrians in Friar Gate at about 9:30 p.m. local time (2130 GMT) on Saturday. Ambulance crews treated the injured at the scene before taking them to the Royal Derby Hospital and to the Queen’s Medical Centre in nearby Nottingham.
Catherine Atkinson, the Member of Parliament for Derby North, said she was “deeply shocked,” adding on social media that her thoughts were with those injured and that she was grateful to the emergency services.
Edited by Natalie Muller