Essex Road crash: Panic as car 'ploughs into pedestrians queuing for pub' in busy Islington street

Three people have been taken to hospital after a car allegedly ploughed into revellers queuing for a pub in a terrifying smash in Islington.

Two knives were seized by police and four people were arrested after the dramatic incident outside the Old Queen's Head pub in Essex Road.

Witnesses said a car came careering around a corner before crashing into people queuing for the pub in the busy north London street.

Two men and one woman were injured in the crash, after which a driver and passenger are said to have abandoned the Peugeot Partner car and fled the scene on foot. None of the injuries are thought to be life-threatening.

Police confirmed the incident - which happened days after a car mounted a pavement in the deadly terror attack on Westminster - was not being treated as terror-related.

One witness wrote on Twitter: “It’s all kicking off on Essex road, Islington… A handful of casualties and a very large knife.”

Another witness told the Mail how she was queuing for the pub when the driver careered off the road and “knocked people over like dominoes.”

She said: “There were about twenty people in the queue and I was at the back with my friends.

“The car came screeching round the corner at about 50mph and was coming straight for me.

“I pushed over the barriers and fell to the floor as the car smashed into three people in front of me. They were knocked over like dominoes.”

Another wrote: “I just heard and saw this where I am. Saw them [the police] chase someone down.

“Looked like reckless driving to me not terror.”

Scotland Yard said four men were held on suspicion of GBH with intent and possession of points and blades.

The road remained closed on Sunday morning.

Anyone with information can contact Islington Police on 101 or call Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.