Injuries as car mounts pavement in London

A man has been arrested, police say, and mobile phone video from the scene showed a man being held face down on the pavement by two other men.

Police described the incident in the South Kensington area as a collision and said they are investigating any possible motive.

Sky’s home affairs correspondent Mark White says counter-terrorism police are assessing the scene but Scotland Yard says officers are “keeping an open mind” over whether the incident is terrorism-related.

A statement from the Metropolitan Police said: “Police were called at 1421 on Saturday, 7 October to reports of a collision in Exhibition Road, South Kensington. It is believed that a number of pedestrians have been injured. Officers are on scene, and the London Ambulance Service have been called.

“A man has been detained at the scene. Enquiries to establish the circumstances and motive are underway.”

The museum said on Twitter it was working with police after “a serious incident” outside and would provide more information later.

At least two ambulances and several police vehicles could be seen near the museum.

Sky’s Mark White said police have told him a number of pedestrians have been injured, but “they don’t quantify more than that.”

“Pictures are emerging on social media of a man on the ground surrounded by people who don’t appear to be police officers, they appear to be members of the public, perhaps security from the natural history museum. Among the officers attending are those armed officers who are now securing a perimeter,” he added.

Witness Jayne Witherspoon described “panic” in South Kensington Underground station.

he said: “I was getting off the Tube at South Kensington station, the doors opened and about 50 people came running down the Tube station escalator. Some people were cowering in the walkway tunnels. It was just mass panic really.”

Enamul Hoque, who was in a Chinese restaurant at the time, called it “really worrying”.

He said: “All of a sudden all the clients in the restaurant hit the floor, and there were all these people running up Exhibition Road. All of a sudden a large gathering of policemen came up and asked people to leave the restaurant, leaving bags behind and things behind.

“I was sitting by the window. My friend went to the bathroom at the time. It was really worrying. I was worried it might be crazy people in the area waiting to hurt other people,” he added.

Downing Street said Prime Minister Theresa May was being briefed on the incident.

Britain’s current security alert level is at “severe”, the second highest level, meaning an attack is thought highly likely.

The UK has suffered a number of terror attacks this year, including two car attacks in London at Westminster Bridge and London Bridge and a bombing outside the Manchester Arena, in which 22 people were killed. – news.sky.com