Exhibition Road in London which contains the Natural History Museum, and various other tourist attractions has become the focus of international media,
after a vehicle careened into several pedestrians at 14:20 (GMT). The car struck people walking on a sidewalk injuring them in the densely populated
area with extensive foot fall.
Reports indicate that the injuries suffered by the those hit appear minor however armed police and a large number of emergency service vehicles are
still on site caring for the victims.
Video footage that emerged on Twitter showed a man being restrained on the ground. Police have said that a man has been detained.
Police said inquiries are under way to establish any possible motive. The area is under heavy video surveillance and could possibly give some insight
it the circumstance.
A Downing Street spokesman said the prime minister is “being kept up to date on events”.
An eyewitness who was walking to the Science Museum said: “When waiting for the light, we heard what I thought was gunshots and saw a car drive over
the pavement. We just ran. My friend dived on the floor and cut her hands.
The woman, who asked to remain anonymous, said: “When it calmed down we walked back to where we’d been and saw a gentleman on the floor being restrained
by police.”
Connor Honeyman, from Essex, who was in the queue for the museum, said: “We heard a horrible thudding noise and a car engine. Everyone started running
and screaming inside.
“We ran in, everyone was following us, and then all the security guards ran out and they closed the main entrance. There was much confusion before
the police got there.”
The current terror threat level in the UK is “severe” – the second highest of existing parameters and a heavy police presence is in the area.
Wilson Chowdhry, Chairman of the British Pakistani Christian Association, said
“If this incident is deemed a terrorist attack it will equal the 6 in a year that Britain experienced from 1974 and 1975 – the worst hit years under the IRA scourge.
“It is essential that British police work rapidly to elucidate the cause of the incident and determine whether or not the collision was terrorist related. The crash has already made international news and created huge panic in London and the worlds awaits the results of the police investigation.
“Any delay will only serve to delay confidence in the UK’s police force and right now the morale of British Citizens is reaching its lowest ebb.
“Attacks like these will impact on the necessary tourism that contributes to Britain’s GDP and will reduce the educational visits that our school children make to Museums and zoos in London. These are undesirable changes that serve only to highlight how long term complacency has started to erode societal structures in Britain.
“The rise in extremists is a problem that has to be addressed and we cannot bury our heads in the sand anymore. Diverse groups have to connect with one another to tackle the growing social malaise that is infecting sectors of our community – only together can we eradicate the terrorist threat in our midst.”