Police on Sunday questioned a man arrested on charges of attempted murder after a car plowed into pedestrians on a street in the central English city of Derby, injuring seven of them.
Chief Superintendent Emma Aldred said police believe this is an “isolated incident” and there is “no further risk to the public.”
British counter-terrorism officials were supporting the investigation, but were keeping an open mind as to the motive for the incident.
Aldred said the assistance of counter-terrorism officers was “normal practice for an incident of this nature”.
“I would like to clarify that this does not mean that this incident is being considered terrorism at this time,” she said.
What do we know about the suspect in the derby incident?
Shortly after the incident, the suspect was found and arrested on suspicion of “attempted murder, causing serious injury by means of dangerous driving, causing grievous bodily harm with intent and dangerous driving.”
According to Aldred, the 36-year-old man in custody is a resident of Derby who has been living in Britain “for a number of years”.
The Interior Ministry declined to disclose the man’s immigration and citizenship status.
A ministry spokesperson said, “Police are leading the investigation and ministers are being updated as it progresses.”
Seven suffered ‘serious but not life-threatening injuries’
Seven people suffered “serious but not life-threatening injuries” when a car ran over pedestrians on Saturday, police said.
The car, a black Suzuki Swift, hit several people in Friar Gate at around 9:30 pm local time (2130 GMT) on Saturday, according to Derbyshire Police.
Police said seven injured people were treated by ambulance crews at the scene and taken to the Royal Derby Hospital and Queens Medical Center in nearby Nottingham.
Catherine Atkinson, Member of Parliament for Derby North, said she was “deeply shocked.”
“My thoughts are with the injured and I am grateful to our emergency services,” she said on social media.
Edited by: Natalie Muller