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Afternoon at the shops is turned into terror
SHOPPERS ran in terror when mayhem came to the city centre after two people were run down by a car in a pedestrian area, and one person was stabbed in a melee that ensued.
SHOPPERS ran in terror when mayhem came to the city centre after two people were run down by a car in a pedestrian area, and one person was stabbed in a melee that ensued.Today, eyewitnesses to shocking scenes in Peterborough when the centre was thronged with shoppers on Saturday afternoon talked of people screaming and of running for their lives.
Mayhem began with a car careering into a pedestrianised area and knocking shoppers over, and then a man was stabbed when people surrounded the car.
Related: Shoppers tell of fear as three people are injured.
Car was able to dodge barrier.
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Hundreds of passers-by and families out doing Saturday afternoon shopping were caught up in the drama, and many had to jump to safety after the car smashed through barriers manned by council workers and swept down Long Causeway, before ploughing into a man and a woman.
An eye-witness said that a two-year-old girl who was standing in the path of the car had to be plucked to safety.
Were you there on Saturday? Tell us your experiences by emailing eteditor@peterboroughtoday.co.uk
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Faced with a crowd of people, the driver stopped opposite Nationwide building society. Onlookers said some people had surrounded the car and had attempted to drag the driver out of the vehicle.
Eyewitnesses say there were then screams as a man in the crowd was stabbed. People then scattered, some screaming as fear spread among the jostling shoppers.
As the alleged offender jumped back into the car, a shopper shouted to people to "get out of the road".
With the boot open and the engine misfiring, the car shot off along Long Causeway, screeched around Cathedral Square, before driving along Church Street and Cowgate towards the Crescent Bridge roundabout.
Dozens of alarmed shoppers and shopkeepers dialled 999, and Cambridgeshire police were inundated with calls.
The police helicopter was called in as police cars chased the suspect car as it sped out of Peterborough onto the southbound A1(M).
The man was reported to be seen "braking heavily" and eventually pulled over half a mile north of Junction 16 close to Norman Cross. A knife was seized by officers.The incident was deemed so serious that in the aftermath Cambridgeshire police put out a message urging the public not to panic, with Detective Inspector Donna Wass stressing that such incidents were "extremely rare".
Three people, including the man who was stabbed, were taken to Peterborough District Hospital, where their conditions were initially described as serious but stable.
Yesterday, a woman who was hit by the car was discharged from hospital, but the two men were still undergoing treatment today.
By 3.30pm on Saturday, a 100-metre stretch of the city centre, from Sports Soccer to Lloyds TSB, was cordoned off as officers gathered forensic evidence.
At 5pm, the blue and white tape cordon was extended across Long Causeway to Boots chemist shop, until it was finally removed about two hours later.
After ambulance crews had taken the victims to hospital, six police vehicles were parked up in Long Causeway, while 16 officers guarded the cordon.
Mohammed Redha Zouaoui (34), of Cromwell Road, Millfield, Peterborough, has been charged with three counts of assault with intent to cause grievous bodily harm and dangerous driving.
He was due to appear before Peterborough magistrates today.
Your comments online
WE were first with the news again on Saturday, with our website reporting the incident. Here are just a selection of the dozens of comments we received from readers:
I WAS a witness to the horrific incident today as were my two young children.
It made me sick. I send all three innocent victims my best wishes as I am sure do hundreds of others.
LESLEYMOHAMAD
WE also witnessed the incident at close quarters today, and would like to thank the man who pushed my two year old daughter out of the path of the car when it came speeding past the sport shop.
I didn't get the chance to thank him in person at the time but we are extremely grateful. Our thoughts are with the people who were not so fortunate.
RICHARDMEDLOCK
AS someone who has a business yards from where the stabbing took place, I am appalled at what happened and my thoughts and sympathy with those who got injured as well as the police and PCSOs who had to work almost seven hours in freezing temperatures to gather evidence. now without being naive can someone tell me what relevance is there whether this psychotic thug was a local or a foreigner or black, white, man or woman or whatever sexual persuasion, he was just plain idiot and a thug who needs to be locked up for a long time
ABDULLAHS34
I DROVE past the snappy snaps shop about an hour ago and it looked pretty serious.
About three ambulances in attendance and about five police cars and vans. It was also cordoned off.
From my position, there also appeared to be a big crowd gathered outside Boots too. I hope the injured are ok and the offender caught and locked up for a very very long time. Which I doubt.
TCMTCMJG
IT'S when something like this happens close to you that it really makes you think twice because it could have been anyone I just crossed that road five minutes before what happened. I hope the injured are feeling better.
NAZMIN_BI
I'M 14 years old and was in town with my 15-year-old friend I had just been into Sports World and I just missed this horrible incident by seconds. I hope the injured are well and recovering.
BEAN_93
IT surprises me that still too many cars drive along this so called "Pedestrianised area" .
The council should tighten up on the traffic that uses this access and check on the speed, too. It is a daily danger along there as people are concentrating on shopping not traffic.
LJSWAIN
Were you there on Saturday? Tell us your experiences by emailing eteditor@peterboroughtoday.co.uk.
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Sunday 12 February 2012
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