A 36-year-old man has been charged after seven people were seriously injured when a car mounted the pavement on one of Derby's busiest streets, police have confirmed.
Sandhu Ponnachan, of Chariot Close, Alvaston, faces six counts of causing grievous bodily harm with intent, one count of attempted grievous bodily harm, one count of dangerous driving and one count of possession of a bladed article. He has been remanded in custody and is due to appear at Southern Derbyshire Magistrates' Court on Wednesday.
The incident occurred at approximately 9.30pm on Saturday outside the Bishop Blaise pub in Friar Gate, when a black Suzuki Swift struck pedestrians. Four men and three women, aged between 36 and 52, were injured; four have since been discharged from hospital. Police have described their injuries as not life-threatening.
Counter-terrorism officers assisted the investigation, but Derbyshire Police stressed this does not mean the incident is being treated as terrorism. Ponnachan, originally from India but now living in Derby, was arrested seven minutes after the incident.
Chief Superintendent Emma Aldred said: 'This incident has, naturally, sent shock waves through the community of Derby and the county as a whole. My thoughts, and those of the wider force, remain with each of the seven injured people, their families, and witnesses at the scene.'
Police have appealed for anyone with footage of the incident to come forward.
