Derby Car Attack: Counter-Terror Police Probe, Indian National Arrested

Chaos Erupts in Derby as Car Rammed into Pedestrians, Multiple Injuries Reported

Derby city centre was plunged into chaos last night after a car deliberately drove into a crowd of pedestrians, leaving seven people with serious injuries. The shocking incident occurred around 9:30 PM in the bustling Friar Gate area, a popular hub for bars, clubs, restaurants, and takeaways.

A 36-year-old man, who is understood to be originally from India but has resided in Britain for several years, was apprehended by authorities shortly after the event. He is currently in police custody and faces charges including attempted murder, causing grievous bodily harm with intent, and dangerous driving.

Derbyshire Police confirmed they are leading the investigation, with support from Counter-Terrorism Policing colleagues. While the possibility of a terrorist motive is not being ruled out, officers have stated they are maintaining an open mind regarding the perpetrator’s intentions.

Eyewitnesses recounted scenes of devastation and fear. Mark Lucas, a 47-year-old local resident, described the aftermath as “carnage.”

“There were people lying injured on the ground with blood pouring from their heads,” Lucas told reporters. “It was a sight I wish I’d never seen. It was sheer horror.”

The area surrounding the incident, spanning from Curzon Street to Ford Street, was cordoned off by police and is expected to remain closed for a significant period to allow for thorough investigations.

Lucas, who lives nearby, arrived at the scene to find the usually vibrant street sealed off. “There was lots of commotion and I could see some people lying injured on the ground badly injured,” he explained. “A few had blood pouring from them and others were trying to help. The scenes were chaotic and terrifying.”

He added that while he didn’t witness the event directly, he heard that a man had deliberately driven into the crowd. Lucas also voiced concerns about the changing social dynamics of the neighbourhood.

“This neighbourhood has gone downhill over the past months and there are a lot of migrants living in the area, and animosity,” he commented. “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.”

Lucas further elaborated on the atmosphere in Friar Gate on a typical Saturday night, describing it as “always rammed” with locals and students. He noted that tensions in the area had been escalating, citing the presence of many migrants and associated unrest.

“The war in the Middle East has made people even more anxious and troubled,” he continued. “Derby is an unsafe place.”

Another resident, a 50-year-old woman who preferred to remain anonymous, echoed these sentiments, describing the city, particularly this area, as being “full of migrants and drug addicts.” She expressed feeling “intimidated, threatened and harassed” when walking around.

“It’s a horrible place to live now and I can’t wait to move away,” she stated. “People walk around in a zombie like state, they are very unfriendly and just stare at you.”

She stressed that she was “not being racist” but felt that “there are too many migrants living here who don’t integrate and it has divided the city.” While she did not witness the incident, she heard the emergency services arriving.

Kate Lowe, another local resident, expressed her profound shock upon hearing about the incident. “As a person who has lived in Derby for years, it’s a massive shock… I just don’t know why anyone would want to do that,” she said.

A churchgoer, who also wished to remain unnamed, described the event as “unusual for the city.” Speaking from a church community gathering, they said, “This is not what we expect. We are thinking and praying for everyone impacted.”

Response and Ongoing Investigation

The seven injured individuals received immediate medical attention at the scene before being transported to hospital. Their injuries are described as serious but not life-threatening.

Chief Superintendent Emma Aldred, who oversees policing in Derby, provided an update at a media briefing. She confirmed that the suspect was apprehended seven minutes after the incident on the other side of the city centre.

“He was safely stopped in Station Approach, where the bridge crosses over towards Pride Park,” Aldred stated. “This swift action would not have been possible without eyewitnesses who contacted us about the vehicle’s whereabouts as it was driven away from the scene and around the city centre.”

She emphasised that the victims were “simply enjoying a night out” when the attack occurred and that the force currently believes it to be an isolated incident with no wider risk to the public.

In a formal statement, Derbyshire Police reiterated that the investigation is being led by detectives with the support of Counter Terrorism Policing colleagues. They stressed that this collaborative approach is standard practice for incidents of this nature and that they are keeping an open mind regarding potential motives. They clarified that the involvement of counter-terrorism officers does not automatically mean the incident is being treated as terrorism.

Politicians have also reacted to the distressing events. Catherine Atkinson, Labour MP for Derby North, expressed her deep shock and offered her thoughts to the injured and their families, commending the work of the emergency services.

Education Secretary Bridget Phillipson conveyed similar sentiments on BBC’s Sunday With Laura Kuenssberg programme, stating her thoughts were with those affected. She confirmed that the police were actively investigating, an arrest had been made, and the Home Secretary was being kept informed.

Baggy Shanker, the MP for Derby South, also shared his thoughts with everyone impacted by the incident and their loved ones.

How to Help

Derbyshire Police are appealing to the public for any information. Witnesses can contact the force via their website, by sending a private message on Facebook, or by calling 101 and quoting incident 1131 of March 28. Alternatively, information can be provided anonymously to the independent charity Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111 or through their website.