Crime19 April, 20266 min read
Woman Arrested for Attempted Murder After Car Hits Pedestrians on Argyll Street, Westminster
This article is an automated aggregation of coverage from news outlets. Our editorials offer in-depth analysis curated by the NewsCord team.
A woman was arrested on suspicion of attempted murder after a car hit pedestrians. Incident occurred on Argyll Street, Westminster, in central London, around 04:30 BST.
Car hits pedestrians in Soho
A woman was arrested on suspicion of attempted murder after a car hit pedestrians in central London in the early hours of Sunday morning, leaving one woman in a critical condition and a man in his 50s with life-changing injuries. The Metropolitan Police said the incident took place on Argyll Street, Westminster, in a Soho street that is home to the London Palladium theatre, at about 04:30 BST. BBC reported that the 30-year-old woman was taken to hospital after emergency services were called to Argyll Street at about 04:30 BST, and that a man in his 50s sustained life-changing injuries and was taken to hospital.
The BBC added that the driver of the car was a 29-year-old woman, arrested at the scene on suspicion of attempted murder, grievous bodily harm (GBH), dangerous driving and drink driving. LBC similarly said a woman in her 30s was in hospital in a critical condition and a man in his 50s suffered life-changing injuries after they were hit by a car in Argyll Street, Westminster, at around 4.30am.
The Independent also described the incident as occurring on Argyll Street, Westminster, around 4.30 am, resulting in three people being injured, including a woman in her 30s in critical condition. Across outlets, police said the incident is not being treated as terrorism-related, with the BBC stating, “Police say the incident, which took place on a Soho street that is home to the London Palladium theatre, is not being treated as terrorism-related.”
Arrest, charges and injuries
The Metropolitan Police arrested a 29-year-old woman driver at the scene on suspicion of attempted murder, grievous bodily harm (GBH), dangerous driving and drink driving, and she was taken into custody. BBC said the driver was arrested at the scene on suspicion of attempted murder, grievous bodily harm (GBH), dangerous driving and drink driving, and that the incident was not being treated as terrorism-related. Metro.co.uk likewise said the Met Police arrested a 29-year-old woman driver on suspicion of attempted murder, GBH, dangerous driving and drink driving, and that she remains in police custody.
My London and London Now both described the driver as a 29-year-old woman arrested at the scene on suspicion of attempted murder, GBH, dangerous driving and drink driving, with My London adding that she was taken into custody where she remains. The injuries were described in consistent terms across multiple reports: a woman in her 30s was taken to hospital in a critical condition, a man in his 50s sustained life-changing injuries, and a third woman in her 30s was treated for minor injuries.
BBC said, “A man in his 50s sustained life-changing injuries, and was taken to hospital,” and also reported that “A third woman, aged in her 30s, was treated for minor injuries.” The Independent echoed that “a woman in her 30s is in critical condition, a man in his 50s sustained life-changing injuries, and another woman in her 30s suffered minor injuries.”
Witness appeals and quoted statements
Detective chief inspector Alison Foxwell, from Specialist Crime South, urged witnesses to come forward after the collision, telling the public that information could be “of crucial importance to investigators.” BBC quoted Det Ch Insp Alison Foxwell calling for witnesses to come forward, and included her statement: “As our enquiries continue, our thoughts are with those injured and their loved ones.” She also said, “While this incident took place in the early hours of the morning, venues in the area were still open, and we believe a number of people will have seen what happened.”
“Det Ch Insp Alison Foxwell has called for witnesses to come forward.”
In the same appeal, Foxwell said, “I would urge anyone who witnessed the collision, or any activity prior to it that they feel may be of relevance, to come forward.” Metro.co.uk carried the same appeal and included the line, “The information you have – however minor you believe it may be – could be of crucial importance to investigators.”
LBC similarly quoted Foxwell’s appeal, stating, “I would urge anyone who witnessed the collision, or any activity prior to it that they feel may be of relevance, to come forward.” My London and London Evening Standard both added practical instructions for people with information, including calling 101 and quoting a reference number.
Video, fights and street details
BBC described witness video posted on social media that showed a fight between several women in the street at the location of the incident, and it described how one woman got into a car which then moved forward and hit another woman standing on the pavement. BBC said, “Video filmed by witnesses and posted on social media, showed a fight between several women in the street at the location of the incident.” It added, “During the incident, one woman got into a car which then moved forward and hit another woman, standing on the pavement.”
BBC also said, “A man standing nearby with a bike also appeared to have been hit by the vehicle.” Metro.co.uk similarly said that “In shocking footage seen by Metro a fight appears to takes place in a busy Argyll Street,” and it described that “Shortly after, a car smashes into a woman walking in front of it.”
The Sun reported that a witness told it “the whole street is blocked off around the London Palladium with crime scene tape,” and it added another witness observation that “Looked like a car was parked in front being photographed by cops”. My London said the incident happened outside Inca Restaurant and Bar in Mayfair, and it placed the time at 4:30am, Sunday, April 19.
Not terrorism-related, but serious charges
Police said the incident is not being treated as terrorism-related even as they arrested the driver on suspicion of attempted murder and other serious offences. BBC stated, “Police say the incident, which took place on a Soho street that is home to the London Palladium theatre, is not being treated as terrorism-related.” Metro.co.uk repeated the same framing, saying, “The Met said the collision is not considered to be terror-related.”
“Police say the incident, which took place on a Soho street that is home to the London Palladium theatre, is not being treated as terrorism-related.”
LBC also said, “Police say the incident, which took place on the the Soho street that is also home to the London Palladium theatre, is not being treated as terrorism-related.” At the same time, the arrest and charges were central across reports: BBC said the driver was arrested on suspicion of attempted murder, grievous bodily harm (GBH), dangerous driving and drink driving, and Metro.co.uk said she was arrested on suspicion of attempted murder, GBH, dangerous driving and drink driving.
The Sun described the driver as a 29-year-old woman arrested on suspicion of attempted murder, grievous bodily harm, dangerous driving and drink driving and taken into custody. With the investigation ongoing, the immediate next step described by the sources was for witnesses to come forward to investigators, as Foxwell said “As our enquiries continue” and as outlets repeated the call to provide information.