Man arrested on suspicion of attempted murder after pedestrians hit by car in central London

A man has been arrested on suspicion of attempted murder after pedestrians were hit by a car in London’s West End in the early hours of Christmas Day.

The Metropolitan Police said officers were called at 00.45am on Wednesday following reports of a collision and a car driving on the wrong side of the road on Shaftesbury Avenue in Covent Garden.

Four pedestrians were taken to hospital with one remaining in a life-threatening condition, police said.

The driver, a 31-year-old man, has been arrested on suspicion of attempted murder.

Police said they believed the suspect was “involved in an altercation at a nightclub prior to getting in his car and mounting the pavement”.

They added that it had “been confirmed as an isolated incident which is not terror related”.

Blood and items of clothing including a jacket, shoes and a hat were strewn across the pavement in front of a Caffe Concerto.

Forensic officers could be seen bagging up shoes and other items of clothing from the pavement.

Anyone with information is asked to call police officers on 101.

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