Ealing Car Attack
London Driver Arrested for Attempted Murder After Injuring Five Pedestrians at Ealing Broadway
Key Points
London Ambulance Service described a broad emergency response at Ealing Broadway, including ambulance crews, paramedics in fast response cars, a volunteer responder team, an incident response officer and London's Air Ambulance; three patients were treated at the scene and one was transported to a major trauma centre as a priority.
The Broadway closure was extended to block both directions between High Street and Spring Bridge Road, with several bus routes diverted away from the area as police investigations continue.
The driver was identified as a 34-year-old Somalia-born British man and arrested on suspicion of dangerous driving and attempted murder; Counter Terrorism Policing London is assisting with initial inquiries, though the authorities say the incident is not being treated as terrorism.
The incident occurred outside Marks & Spencer on Ealing Broadway, with the car later halted in nearby Grange Park; authorities said two pedestrians were treated at the scene and three were taken to hospital, all with non-life-threatening injuries.
A car ploughed into five pedestrians outside a Marks & Spencer on Ealing Broadway in west London at 2:29 PM on Saturday, injuring all five and sending three to hospital. The driver, a 34-year-old Somalia-born British man, fled the scene but was arrested minutes later in nearby Grange Park — roughly half a mile away — on suspicion of dangerous driving and attempted murder, according to Metropolitan Police.
Counter Terrorism Policing London joined the initial inquiry, but authorities were quick to draw a clear line. "The incident is not being treated as terrorism," police said. All five victims are expected to survive, though one was rushed to a major trauma centre as a priority.
Silver Car Strikes Five Outside M&S at Peak Shopping Hour
The collision happened at 2:29 PM, one of the busiest shopping periods of the week. A silver car failed to stop after striking the pedestrians and sped away from the scene. Witnesses described the aftermath as "horrific," with two people lying motionless on the pavement, according to MyLondon.
The London Ambulance Service sent an enormous response. That included ambulance crews, paramedics in fast-response cars, a volunteer responder team, an incident response officer, and London's Air Ambulance, which landed in a nearby open space. Three patients were treated on the scene. One was taken to a major trauma centre by road as a priority, the Evening Standard reported.
Driver Stopped Half a Mile Away, Arrested on Attempted Murder Suspicion
Police caught up with the silver car in Grange Park, about 0.5 miles from the crash site. Officers arrested the 34-year-old driver there. He faces two charges: dangerous driving and attempted murder. Under UK law, attempted murder requires proof that the suspect specifically intended to kill — not just drove recklessly, according to ITV News.
The dual charges suggest investigators are building a case along two tracks at once. Forensic teams began examining the vehicle and the impact zone after police sealed off the area. The Metropolitan Police said they are "keeping an open mind as to any potential motive."
Counter-Terror Unit Involved but No Terrorism Link Found
The involvement of Counter Terrorism Policing London raised immediate questions. But police explained it as standard procedure. When a vehicle is used as a weapon against a crowd, counter-terror officers are consulted quickly to rule out extremist links, The Independent reported.
By early Saturday evening, police had confirmed: this is not a terrorism case. The Met said local officers contacted Counter Terrorism Policing for "initial inquiries" only "due to the nature of the incident." No extremist motive has been identified. Investigators continue to examine the suspect's background and the circumstances leading up to the crash.
Ealing Broadway Shut Down, Eight Bus Routes Diverted
The Broadway was closed in both directions between High Street and Spring Bridge Road following the incident. Eight bus routes were diverted away from the area, affecting thousands of travellers on a busy Saturday. Transport for London warned disruptions could stretch into Sunday morning, MyLondon reported.
The closure forced major retailers, including the M&S outside which the crash occurred, to shut their doors during peak trading hours. Police urged anyone with video footage or eyewitness information to come forward. Forensic investigators remained at the scene into the evening conducting skid-mark and impact analysis.
Sentiment
Mostly NegativePublishers
16
Articles
38
Reach
54
