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Six injured after vehicle hits pedestrians outside sports centre during Eid celebrations

Six people, including three children, were injured after a woman crashed her car into a crowd following Eid celebrations with her family.

The 42-year-old woman was arrested after the collision, which happened at around 9.14am on Sunday outside Westgate Sports Centre in Newcastle upon Tyne, where rowds of people were attending prayers for the religious festival.

Northumbria Police have said they have no reason to believe the incident was terror-related.

The six casualties, including three children, were taken to the Royal Victoria Infirmary. Two of the children are in paediatric intensive care and one adult is in the trauma high dependency unit.

The remaining three are believed to have serious but not life-threatening injuries, police said.

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Assistant Chief Constable Darren Best said: “What we have established is that a 42-year-old female has been celebrating Eid with her family, she then got into her car and has collided with six people in the crowd.

“We have no information to suggest this is terror-related, however, this is a serious collision with multiple casualties and extensive inquiries are ongoing to establish the circumstances around this tragic incident.”

Mr Best said extra officers are on patrol around communities in the area to answer any questions or concerns and specially-trained family liaison officers are working with the affected families.

A statement from the nearby Newcastle Central Mosque said the collision happened immediately after people were leaving the area following Eid prayers.

It said: “We thank the emergency medical services, the police and over 100 volunteers from the mosque for their quick response to the incident.

“We were able to clear the area promptly ensuring there was no delay in the injured being attended to. We urge everyone to please pray for all those affected.”

Chi Onwurah, Labour MP for Newcastle Central, tweeted about the incident after attending the prayers.

The MP said: “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.”