A man has been arrested on suspicion of attempted murder after pedestrians were hit by a car in London’s West End in the early hours of Christmas Day.
The Metropolitan Police said officers were called at 00.45am following reports of a collision and a car driving on the wrong side of the road on Shaftesbury Avenue in the UK capital’s theatre district.
Four pedestrians were taken to hospital with one remaining in a life-threatening condition, police said.
The driver, a 31-year-old man, has been arrested on suspicion of attempted murder.
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Police said they believed the suspect was “involved in an altercation at a nightclub prior to getting in his car and mounting the pavement”.
They added that it had “been confirmed as an isolated incident which is not terror-related”.
Blood and items of clothing including a jacket, shoes and a hat were strewn across the pavement in front of a Caffe Concerto.
The police cordon stretched between the Gielgud Theatre, where the musical Oliver is performed, and Sondheim Theatre, home to Les Miserables.
A further police cordon was on Archer Street and Great Windmill Street, covering the Windmill Soho nightclub and other venues in the Soho area.
Deputy Assistant Commissioner Stuart Cundy said: “Officers responded quickly to this report, working closely with City of London Police to arrest a man within minutes.
“This has been confirmed as an isolated incident which is not terror-related.” - PA