Man charged after seven people hit by car in Derby

A 36-year-old man has been charged after a car struck a number of pedestrians in Derby city centre on Saturday.

Sandhu Ponnachan, from Alvaston, Derby, has been charged with six counts of grievous bodily harm (GBH) with intent and one count of attempted GBH with intent, one count of dangerous driving, and one count of possession of a bladed article.

Seven people were seriously hurt when they were hit by a black Suzuki Swift in Friar Gate at about 21:30 GMT on Saturday.

Ponnachan, who police said was originally from India, is due before magistrates on Wednesday.

In a statement, Ch Supt Emma Aldred called the charge "positive news", but reiterated that the investigation was ongoing and called on the public to come forward with any information.

"This incident has, naturally, sent shockwaves through the community of Derby and the county as a whole," she said.

Aldred added: "My thoughts, and those of the wider force, remain with each of the seven injured people, their families, and witnesses at the scene."

She also urged the public to "allow the judicial process to continue without any speculation" that could impede the "pursuit of justice for all those affected".

Janine McKinney, from the Crown Prosecution Service, said prosecutors had worked with Derbyshire Police and had established "sufficient evidence" to bring the case to court.

She added it was "in the public interest to pursue criminal proceedings".

The victims of the incident - four men and three women aged between 36 and 52 - all suffered serious but non life-threatening injuries during the incident.

Claire Ward, mayor of the East Midlands, had called for local communities and agencies to do "all we can" to support people affected.

"This is a serious but isolated incident. I know that for those not just involved who were injured on the evening, but who were around the city centre and had first-hand experience of what happened, this will be a really frightening time," she told the BBC on Monday.

The suspect was arrested on suspicion of attempted murder after the incident and had been held for questioning prior to the charges announced on Tuesday night.

Police previously said the incident was not being treated as terrorism and there was no ongoing risk to the public.

Counter-terrorism police had joined the investigation after the incident, but the Derbyshire force said this was "common practice".