Car plows into crowd near London’s famous theatres Four pedestrians hospitalized

A 31-year-old man has been arrested on suspicion of attempted murder after a car ploughed into four pedestrians outside a nightclub in central London early on Christmas Day.

Police were called at 12.45am to reports of an altercation outside the venue, with the car reportedly driving on the wrong side of the road on Shaftesbury Avenue, W1, before mounting the pavement, Caliber.Az reports via foreign media.

Four pedestrians were taken to hospital, one of whom remains in a life-threatening condition. Blood was seen on the pavement at the scene, where items of clothing, including a jacket, shoes, and a hat, were collected by forensic officers near the Caffe Concerto.

A police cordon was established between the Gielgud Theatre, home to the musical Oliver, and the Sondheim Theatre, where Les Miserables is staged. Officers responded swiftly to the incident, and the suspect was arrested within minutes.

The Metropolitan Police have launched an investigation, with early reports suggesting the incident followed a nightclub altercation. The authorities have confirmed that the incident is not terror-related, describing it as an isolated event.

Deputy Assistant Commissioner Stuart Cundy said, "Officers responded quickly, working closely with City of London Police to arrest a man within minutes. Detectives are progressing enquiries, and several scenes remain in place at the location today."

Shaftesbury Avenue, a busy thoroughfare in the West End, is home to some of London's most famous theatres, including the Shaftesbury Theatre, which was hosting performances of Mrs Doubtfire and the dynamic dance show Burn the Floor on Christmas Eve.

The investigation continues as detectives piece together the events leading up to the collision.

By Aghakazim Guliyev