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Six injured after car hits crowd celebrating Eid in Newcastle Six injured after car hits crowd celebrating Eid in Newcastle
(about 4 hours later)
Six people have been injured after a car drove into a crowd of people celebrating Eid in Newcastle. Six people were taken to hospital with serious injuries following Eid celebrations in Newcastle after a woman attending the event drove into them.
The incident happened outside Westgate Sports Centre in the west end of Newcastle shortly after 9am on Sunday morning. Three children were injured in what the local MP described as a “terrible accident”.
Northumbria police do not believe the incident is terrorism related. The driver, a 42-year-old woman, was arrested at the scene and is in police custody. Despite early fears from onlookers that the crash was a terrorist attack, police do not believe it was terrorism-related.
Hundreds of people had gathered outside the sports centre for Eid prayers to mark the end of Ramadan, the Muslim holy month. Witnesses said prayers had ended but people were gathered in the car park afterwards. The incident happened outside Westgate Sports Centre in the west end of Newcastle shortly after 9am on Sunday morning where hundreds of people had gathered to say Eid prayers to mark the end of Ramadan, the Muslim holy month of fasting. Witnesses said prayers had ended but people were gathered in the car park afterwards.
Three children were among the injured, the ambulance service said.A North East ambulance service spokesman said: “We received our first 999 call at 9.15 this morning to report a car that had mounted the kerb.“We have taken six people to hospital, they have gone to the Royal Victoria infirmary in Newcastle, three children and three adults.” The driver, a 42-year-old woman, was arrested at the scene and taken into police custody. A witness said she seemed shocked and that she said: “How could I do that today?”
Asif Anwar, 29, told the Newcastle Chronicle what he saw. The six casualties were taken to the Royal Victoria Infirmary. Two of the children were in paediatric intensive care and one adult was in the trauma high dependency unit on Sunday evening.
He said: “The lady lost control of the car and hit some people. Two of them were kids.” The remaining three are believed to have serious but not life-threatening injuries, police said.
The incident came six days after a man drove a van into a crowd of Muslims near Finsbury Park mosque in London, killing one. Anwar said his first thought was that it was a terror attack. Darren Best, assistant chief constable at Northumbria police, said: “At approximately 9.14am we received reports that a car had collided with pedestrians outside of Westgate Sports Centre, in Newcastle city centre.
“It was chaos, everyone was panicking people just don’t know what is going on these days. Terrorism is what everyone was thinking straight away,” he told the Chronicle. “At that time a large number of people were in the area celebrating the religious festival Eid that is held to mark the end of Ramadan.
In a late morning update on Sunday Northumbria police said extra officers were on patrol among the community following the incident. “What we have established is that a 42-year-old female has been celebrating Eid with her family, she then got into her car and has collided with six people in the crowd.
They reiterated there was nothing to suggest a terror link but that a full investigation was underway. No other suspects are being sought, the force said. “We have no information to suggest this is terror-related, however, this is a serious collision with multiple casualties and extensive inquiries are ongoing to establish the circumstances around this tragic incident.”
Extra officers are on patrol around communities in the area to answer any questions or concerns, Best added. Specially trained family liaison officers are working with the affected families.
Mory Sanogo, whose brother-in-law was hit by the car, told the Chronicle: “I think the driver just lost control and she couldn’t stop the car. She was saying: ‘How could I do that today?’”
The incident came six days after a man drove a van into a crowd of Muslims near Finsbury Park mosque in London, killing one.
One of the worshippers in Newcastle told the Newcastle Chronicle what he saw.
Asif Anwar, 29 said: “It was chaos, everyone was panicking, people just don’t know what is going on these days. Terrorism is what everyone was thinking straight away.”
The event, called Eid in the Open, had been organised by Newcastle Central mosque. It began at 7.30am on Sunday morning, and was set to include food stalls and a bouncy castle.The event, called Eid in the Open, had been organised by Newcastle Central mosque. It began at 7.30am on Sunday morning, and was set to include food stalls and a bouncy castle.
In a statement on Facebook the mosque said: “Immediately after the Eid prayers when the people were starting to leave the venue, a car collided with pedestrians. The injured were immediately attended to by the emergency medical services and the police. All the injured have been taken to the hospital. We pray and hope that all those affected recover soon fully.In a statement on Facebook the mosque said: “Immediately after the Eid prayers when the people were starting to leave the venue, a car collided with pedestrians. The injured were immediately attended to by the emergency medical services and the police. All the injured have been taken to the hospital. We pray and hope that all those affected recover soon fully.
“We thank the emergency medical services, the police and over 100 volunteers from the mosque for their quick response to the incident. We were able to clear the area promptly ensuring there was no delay in the injured being attended to.“We thank the emergency medical services, the police and over 100 volunteers from the mosque for their quick response to the incident. We were able to clear the area promptly ensuring there was no delay in the injured being attended to.
“We urge everyone to please pray for all those affected. The police are investigating the incident at the moment and we will give an update as soon as we have more information.”“We urge everyone to please pray for all those affected. The police are investigating the incident at the moment and we will give an update as soon as we have more information.”
Northumbria police said in a statement: “On Sunday June 25, at approx 9.14am Northumbria police received reports that a vehicle had collided with pedestrians outside of Westgate Sports Centre, Newcastle upon Tyne. Chi Onwurah, Labour MP for Newcastle Central, tweeted about the incident after attending the prayers.
“Police inquiries are ongoing to establish exactly what happened but, at this time, it is not believed to be a terror incident. The MP said: “So sad, I was at the prayers earlier and there were so much joy and unity. Thinking of those affected by what I am told was terrible accident.”
“Emergency services are currently at the scene and six casualties have been confirmed.”