Car jumped red light then hit people, court hears

Pedestrians were "projected into the air" after being hit by a car going through a red light in west London, causing serious injury, a court has heard.

Ahmed Timir, 34, is alleged to have driven through a pedestrian crossing in Ealing, striking multiple people who were left with injuries including broken facial bones and a broken pelvis.

Timir, of Grange Park, Ealing, is charged with five counts of attempted murder, dangerous driving, two counts of failing to stop, failing to provide a specimen of breath for analysis and three counts of criminal damage.

The defendant appeared at Willesden Magistrates' to face the charges against him and was placed into custody.

Somalia-born Timir approached the signal-controlled crossing on Ealing Broadway in a white Seat Leon on Saturday, when the traffic light was red and a large number of pedestrians were lawfully crossing, Kate Fassam-Wright, prosecuting, told the court.

Several victims were "projected into the air causing serious injuries including broken facial bones and a broken pelvis", the court heard.

After the initial impact, the defendant is alleged to have continued driving and crashed with stationary traffic at a junction, including a Toyota Corolla and a Toyota Prius.

The defendant is alleged to have then driven away, and a witness reported a white vehicle had collided with his car at the junction of Hanger Lane and Uxbridge Road.

The vehicle was stopped on Warwick Road.

Emergency services attended shortly after the incident and multiple casualties were treated.

The defendant was subsequently located and arrested later that day, the prosecution said.

Counter Terrorism Policing London conducted initial inquiries, but it is not being treated as terrorism.

He is due to appear at the Old Bailey on 27 July.

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