A woman who seems to be of West African descent has been arrested in connection with a car crash in which six people, including three children were injured when a car drove into a crowd of Muslims celebrating Eid el-Fitri on Sunday, the 25th of June, 2017.
The 42 year old woman who had been celebrating the end of Ramadan is alleged to have got into her car and lost control of her vehicle, hitting several bystanders.
Six people are now confirmed to have been injured, including three children.
Two of the children are in a paediatric intensive care unit, with one of the adults in a high dependency unit.
The woman has been arrested and remains in custody, Northumbria Police said.
An estimated 300 to 400 Muslim worshippers were at the college celebrating the end of Ramadan.
Several witnesses say the woman accidentally backed into a child, panicked, and lost control of their car, hitting more people in the process, Express.co.uk reports.
Armed police and the police helicopter were called to the scene, with the recent terror attack on a group of Muslim in Finsbury Park still fresh in people’s minds.
A statement tweeted by Northumbria Police said: “On Sunday June 25, at approx 9.14am, Northumbria Police received reports thata vehicle had collided with pedestrians outside of Westgate Sports Centre, Newcastle-upon-Tyne.
“Police enquiries are ongoing to establish what exactly happened but, at this time, it is not believed to be a terror incident.
Police said extra officers are on patrol to reassure members of the public but repeated that there is nothing to suggest the incident was terror-related.
Chi Onwurah, Labour MP for Newcastle Central, tweeted: “So sad, I was at the prayers earlier and there were so much joy and unity. Thinking of those affected by what I am told was terrible accident.”
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