A woman is facing attempted murder charges after a car ploughed into three pedestrians on a central London street in the early hours of Sunday morning, an incident police say is not being treated as terrorism-related.
The 29-year-old driver was arrested at the scene on Argyll Street in Westminster at approximately 4.30am. According to the Metropolitan Police, she was taken into custody on suspicion of attempted murder, grievous bodily harm, dangerous driving and drink driving.
Victims in hospital with critical and life-changing injuries
The collision left three people with significant injuries. A woman in her 30s was taken to hospital where she remains in a critical condition. A man in his 50s sustained what police described as life-changing injuries and was also hospitalised. A second woman in her 30s suffered minor injuries. Officers and the London Ambulance Service had attended the scene, which was reportedly outside the Inca Restaurant and Bar in the Mayfair area.
Police urge witnesses to come forward
Detective Chief Inspector Alison Foxwell, leading the investigation, issued a direct appeal for information. She stated that while the incident happened in the early hours, venues in the vibrant Soho district were still open and it is believed a number of people would have witnessed the collision or events leading up to it.
“As our inquiries continue, our thoughts are with those injured and their loved ones,” DCI Foxwell said. “I would urge anyone who witnessed the collision, or any activity prior to it that they feel may be of relevance, to come forward. The information you have – however minor you believe it may be – could be of crucial importance to investigators.”
The police are asking anyone with information to call 101, quoting the reference 1404/19APR. Information can also be provided anonymously to the independent charity Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.
The incident occurred on Argyll Street, a famous Soho thoroughfare just off Oxford Street and near Oxford Circus. The street is home to the London Palladium, the historic Grade II* listed West End theatre which opened in 1910 and has hosted the Royal Variety Performance. The area has a history of heavy foot traffic and late-night activity.
While not linked, the location has been the site of previous significant incidents. In November 2017, false reports of gunshots sparked a panic at Oxford Circus tube station and surrounding streets, injuring 16 people and placing the London Palladium into lockdown. More recently, in May 2025, a woman was hit by a bus on nearby Oxford Street, requiring an air ambulance.
