Police have arrested a 40-year-old man on suspicion of dangerous driving, causing grievous bodily harm and possession of controlled drugs, after a car swerved towards crowds of people watching the New Year fireworks in London.
Metropolitan Police officers were called to the junction of Primrose Hill Road and Regent’s Park Road in central London at about 00.13am today, following reports a car had crashed into a pedestrian.
It comes after police officers encouraged people to avoid the area on New Year’s Eve after 16-year-old Harry Pitman was fatally stabbed in the neck as crowds gathered at the viewpoint on December 31 a year ago.
Police said the driver left the scene and sped off long Primrose Hill Road where a second pedestrian was struck.
Video footage taken at the scene today shows panicked crowds running away from Primrose Hill after the fireworks display had commenced.
People can be heard screaming and shouting as police officers gathered around the junction.
The Metropolitan Police has since confirmed a 21-year-old man was hit by a vehicle. He sustained minor injuries and did not require medical treatment.
A second pedestrian who was struck, a 59-year-old man, was treated by paramedics before being taken to hospital where his injuries were assessed as non-life changing.
The incident is not being treated as a terror-related, Scotland Yard added.
A Metropolitan Police spokesperson said: ‘At 00:13hrs on Wednesday, 1 January a vehicle was involved in a collision with a pedestrian at the junction of Regent’s Park Road and Primrose Hill Road.
‘The driver failed to stop at the scene, making off along Primrose Hill Road where a second pedestrian was struck.
‘Officers who were in the area as part of the New Year’s Eve policing operation located the vehicle a short distance away at the junction of Primrose Hill Road and King Henry’s Road.’
Police added: ‘A 40-year-old man, has been arrested on suspicion of dangerous driving, causing grievous bodily harm and possession of controlled drugs.
‘The pedestrian who was initially struck, a 21-year-old man, sustained minor injuries that did not require medical treatment.
‘The second pedestrian who was struck, a 59-year-old man, was treated by paramedics before being taken to hospital where his injuries were assessed as non-life changing.
‘An investigation is under way. This is not being treated as a terrorist incident.’
It comes after tragedy struck at last year’s event, when 16-year-old Harry Pitman was stabbed to death with a hunting knife at the top of Primrose Hill as people gathered to watch fireworks.
A 17-year-old, who cannot be named for legal reasons, was charged with murder but an Old Bailey trial ended in October with a jury unable to reach a verdict. A retrial is expected to begin next October.
Local figures, as well as officials, described Harry’s death was an isolated incident, though local traders and neighbours have raised concerns about crime levels in the area.
The Royal Parks, which which runs the 62-acre Grade II listed green space rising above affluent north London streets, set up a Safety Advisory Group — including Met Police — for the New Year’s Eve gatherings last night.
It previously stressed the park is ‘not suitable for large gatherings’ and that police officers along with stewards would be in attendance to remind people the park will close at 1am on New Year’s Day.
Since last year, the park has been closed to the public from 10am on Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays, reopening at 6am, after complaints about anti-social behaviour.
The restrictions were meant to last only during British Summertime months, yet the gates have remained in place despite the clocks changing in October – with Bonfire Night on November 5 highlighted as a particular concern.