Man arrested after several people seriously injured as pedestrians hit by car

A man has been arrested after a car hit and injured pedestrians in Derby.

Derbyshire Police said a number of people had been injured, some of them seriously, in the incident in the city centre on Saturday night.

Police said the car believed to be involved was stopped after the incident in Friar Gate at about 9.30pm.

The driver, a man in his 30s, was arrested and is in police custody.

Police have asked anyone who saw a black Suzuki Swift in Derby around the time of the incident to get in touch.

The force’s statement said: “Although we know this will be alarming, we would like to reassure people that we do not believe there is an ongoing risk to the public.”

A section of Friar Gate is expected to be closed for some time and people are asked to avoid the area.

Derby North MP Catherine Atkinson said she was “deeply shocked” by reports of the casualties.

Posting on Facebook, she said: “My thoughts are with those injured and I’m grateful to our emergency services.

“Please follow police advice and avoid the area. Anyone who has information should contact them as soon as possible.”

Baggy Shanker, the MP for Derby South, said his thoughts are with “everyone who has been affected and with their loved ones”.

One person who arrived at the scene shortly after the incident told the Derby Telegraph there were “people on the floor”.

They added: “It was such a frightening experience. We came around the corner and there was just people everywhere.

“We didn’t realise what had happened and then we slowly realised that it was something bad.”