11 injured after car hits pedestrians in London; police not treating incident as terrorism
A Reuters reported quoted police as saying they were not treating the incident as an act of terrorism. One man was detained at the scene.
In Short
- 11 people have been injured
- One person has been detained at the scene
- The crash happened at 2:20 pm
The London Ambulance Service on Satuday said 11 people were injured when a car crashed into pedestrians outside the Natural History Museum.
A Reuters reported quoted police as saying they were not treating the incident as an act of terrorism. One man was detained at the scene.
Deputy Director of Operations Peter McKenna said nine of the injured were taken to the hospital for treatment, most with leg and head injuries.
The crash happened at 2:20 pm on a day when the central London museum is usually teeming with pedestrians, including international tourists.
Photographs showed a dented silver car and a man being pinned to the ground outside the museum. It was not immediately clear if he was pinned down by police or others at the scene.
Witness Katie Craine said she was coming out of the museum when she saw a man in handcuffs being pinned down on the ground by police near a damaged car.
"He looked really proud of himself," she said. "He was laughing."
The television presenter Greg Scott posted an image of the man.
This is the arrested man following the incident near Londons Natural History Museum an hour ago. He appears to be bleeding. What a shame. pic.twitter.com/1rHnFUo7ap- Greg Scott (@GregScottTV) October 7, 2017
Another Twitter user even uploaded a video.
GOT HIM!! I hope everyone at #naturalhistorymuseum #london is ok after this coward ploughed through a crowd pavement #londonattack pic.twitter.com/nHSyJhl5lV- ???Sarah??? ???? (@RavensDarkAngel) October 7, 2017
Shopkeepers in the immediate area were told to evacuate and police established a large security cordon around the area minutes after the incident, closing some roads. Police helicopters circled the scene overhead.
The Natural History Museum tweeted that there had been a "serious incident" outside the museum, which is located near the world famous Victoria and Albert Museum and other attractions.
There's been a serious incident outside the Museum. We are working w/ @metpoliceuk and will provide an update when we have more information- NaturalHistoryMuseum (@NHM_London) October 7, 2017
Downing Street said British Prime Minister Theresa May was being briefed on the incident.
(Inputs from AP)
VIDEO | This Twitter video shows the man's detainment from another angle. (Courtesy: @DrewLiquerman/Twitter)
BREAKING| the moment a man is arrested outside of the London Natural History Museum for ramming his car into a crowd pic.twitter.com/G3acheElip- Drew Liquerman ???? (@DrewLiquerman) October 7, 2017