Terror Not Suspected After Car Strikes Several Pedestrians Outside Natural History Museum In London
LONDON (CBSNewYork/CBS News/AP) -- London police say a car crash that injured 11 people outside the Natural History Museum is a road traffic accident, not a terror attack.
Police made the statement Saturday afternoon nearly four hours after the car hit pedestrians in a crowded tourist area. One man was detained at the scene. He has not been charged.
The Natural History Museum said shortly after the crash there was "a serious incident" outside the building.
CBS News will continue to give updates throughout the day on the car collision in London https://t.co/m1flTVA8Bt pic.twitter.com/OtiuFBWqdj
— CBS News (@CBSNews) October 7, 2017
The crash happened at 2:20 p.m. on a day when the central London museum is usually teeming with pedestrians including international tourists. Photographs showed a dented silver car and a man being pinned to the ground outside the museum.
Incident in Exhibition Road, near Albert Museum https://t.co/DSZBtD7xQd pic.twitter.com/AHwFKYkHzS
— Metropolitan Police (@metpoliceuk) October 7, 2017
The London Ambulance Service says nine people were hospitalized after the crash.
Downing Street said British Prime Minister Theresa May was briefed on the incident.
London's official terrorist threat level has been set at "severe," indicating an attack is highly likely.
There have been a series of terror attacks on London and Manchester this year, including vehicle attacks on pedestrians at Westminster Bridge and London Bridge.
(© Copyright 2017 CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved. The Associated Press contributed to this report.)