SEVEN people have been seriously injured after a car ploughed into a crowd of pedestrians in a busy city centre last night.

Cops have arrested a man in his 30s after scrambling to the scene in Derby.

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Police at the scene in Derby city centre on Sunday morningCredit: PA
Derby incident
The cordon remains in placeCredit: PA
Derby incident
A police officer stands ahead of the tapeCredit: PA
The man, originally from India, was detained on suspicion of attempted murder, causing serious injury through dangerous driving, inflicting grievous bodily harm with intent, and dangerous driving.

He remains in police custody.

Derbyshire Police say the incident, around 9.30pm, involved a black Suzuki Swift in the Friar Gate area, which was packed with pubgoers.

Paramedics treated a number of pedestrians before they were taken to taken to Royal Derby Hospital and Queen’s Medical Centre in Nottingham.

Photos circulating on social media – which we are not publishing – show several people lying on the pavement and in the road.

Officers stopped a vehicle believed to have been involved shortly afterwards and the driver was arrested.

An eye-witness told The Mirror that the scene was “absolute carnage”.

They said: “It was utterly horrific. People were laying on the pavement covered in blood and on the road.”

Another by-stander told The Daily Telegraph it was “sickening”.

They added: “We were walking down the street when it happened. There was screaming and yelling. It was horrendous.”

Police tape blocking off a city street at night, with a police car and other vehicles visible in the background.
A car ploughed into several pedestrians on a busy street last nightCredit: BPM
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Forensic officers collecting evidence last nightCredit: Paul Tonge
Police van and officers blocking off a street at night.
Cops arrested a man in his 30s on suspicion of attempted murderCredit: BPM
Police say there is not believed to be an ongoing risk to the public.

Labour MP for Derby North, Catherine Atkinson, posted to Facebook: “I am deeply shocked by reports that people have been injured in a serious incident in Derby city centre this evening.

“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 member for Derby South, said his thoughts were with “everyone who has been affected and with their loved ones”.

A Derbyshire Police spokesperson said: “Our investigation is in its early stages but we want to hear from anyone who saw a black Suzuki Swift being driven in Derby around the time of the incident.

They added: “Friar Gate is completely closed from the junction with Curzon Street/Cheapside up to Ford Street.

“The road will be closed for a considerable time so please avoid the area completely.

“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.

“No further information is available at this stage but we will post an update as soon as we have one.”

The Home Secretary is being kept updated on the incident in Derby that saw multiple people struck by a car.

Education Secretary Bridget Phillipson told the BBC’s Sunday With Laura Kuenssberg: “My thoughts are with anyone that’s been affected by this, those who’ve been injured or hurt, and their family members at this really difficult time.”

She added: “The police are actively investigating. We don’t believe there is wider cause for the public to be alarmed.

“The police have made an arrest, and the Home Secretary is being kept updated on this.”

In a post on Facebook on Sunday, police added: “Vehicles that are currently parked in the cordon in Derby City Centre; They will not be released until the scene has been lifted and the road has reopened.

“We apologise for any inconvenience this has caused, please keep an eye on our Facebook page for further updates.”

Anyone with information is urged to contact police via private message on Facebook or calling 101, quoting incident 1131.

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The Sun has contacted East Midlands Ambulance Service for comment.

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A police officer stands behind the cordon on Friar GateCredit: Paul Tonge
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Forensics officers at the scene gather evidenceCredit: Paul Tonge