At least six people were injured on Sunday after a car mounted a pavement outside a sports centre in the northern English city of Newcastle, but the incident is not believed to be terrorism-related, police said on Sunday.
Local media said hundreds of people were celebrating Eid, which marks the end of Islam’s holy month of Ramadan, at the sports centre and that two children were among the casualties.
“On Sunday June 25, at approximately 9:14 a.m. Northumbria Police received reports that a vehicle had collided with pedestrians outside of Westgate Sports Centre, Newcastle upon Tyne,” the police said in a statement.
{{/usCountry}}“On Sunday June 25, at approximately 9:14 a.m. Northumbria Police received reports that a vehicle had collided with pedestrians outside of Westgate Sports Centre, Newcastle upon Tyne,” the police said in a statement.
{{/usCountry}}“Police enquiries are ongoing to establish exactly what happened but, at this time, it is not believed to be a terror incident.” Police said a 42-year-old woman had been detained and was in custody.
The ambulance service said three children and three adults were being treated at a local hospital for injuries sustained in the crash.
Video on social media, apparently taken minutes after the crash, showed dozens of people in Muslim dress, including children, screaming and rushing forward to see what happened.
A statement from the nearby Newcastle Central Mosque said the collision took place just as people were leaving Eid prayers.
Britain is on high alert for terror-related incidents involving vehicles after a string of recent attacks. A man drove a van into Muslim worshippers leaving two London mosques on June 19, killing one and injuring others. Police said that was a terrorist attack directed at Muslims.
Police in Newcastle said extra officers were on patrol to reassure people.