A 24-year-old man has been arrested on suspicion of attempted murder after a vehicle struck several pedestrians in London on Saturday evening, leaving one person in a critical condition.
Incident Details
The Metropolitan Police said officers were called to reports of a collision involving a car and pedestrians on Whitechapel Road, east London, shortly after 7pm. Paramedics treated five people at the scene, with one man taken to hospital with life-threatening injuries. Three others suffered minor injuries and were discharged after treatment, while one person declined medical attention.
Arrest and Investigation
The suspect, a 24-year-old man, was arrested at the scene on suspicion of attempted murder. He remains in custody at a central London police station. Detective Chief Superintendent James Conway said: “This was a distressing incident for everyone involved. Our officers responded swiftly and made an arrest within minutes. We are working to establish the full circumstances and urge anyone with information to come forward.”
Witness Accounts and Police Appeal
Witnesses reported seeing a car mount the pavement and strike pedestrians before coming to a stop. The area was cordoned off for several hours as forensic teams examined the scene. Police have not yet disclosed a motive and are appealing for dashcam or mobile phone footage. The force added that counter-terrorism officers are providing support as a precaution, but the incident is not currently being treated as terrorism-related.
Community Response
Local residents expressed shock at the incident. One shopkeeper, who did not want to be named, said: “I heard a loud bang and saw people running. It was chaos. We are all shaken.” The mayor of London, Sadiq Khan, said he was being kept updated and thanked emergency services for their rapid response. The incident comes amid heightened awareness of vehicle attacks in the UK, following several similar incidents in recent years.
