- Did YOU see what happened? Email: tom.cotterill@mailonline.co.uk
Five people have been injured after a car ploughed into a group of people at a nightclub full of students celebrating Freshers’ Week.
The horror hit-and-run outside The Tunnel Club – one of Birmingham‘s longest-running nightclubs – has been branded a ‘targeted attack’ by police.
The incident took place at about 3am today, as hundreds of revellers gathered at the venue, formerly Subway City, for a Freshers’ Week party – marking students opening days at university.
A group of men were struck by the vehicle that was ‘deliberately’ driven at them before later fleeing the scene. One victim suffered ‘multiple serious injuries’ while four others were treated for ‘potentially serious injuries’.
Police arrested one man at the scene on suspicion of affray and are now ‘actively searching’ for the driver and the car involved.
Did YOU see what happened? Email: tom.cotterill@mailonline.co.uk
The horror hit-and-run outside The Tunnel Club – one of Birmingham ‘s longest-running nightclubs – has been branded a ‘targeted attack’ by police (officers are pictured today)
The horror smash took place at about 3am with five men standing outside the club being hurt
Police have set up a cordon around the scene while forensics officers have started sweeping the area outside The Tunnel Club
The horror hit-and-run took place outside The Tunnel Club – one of Birmingham ‘s longest-running nightclubs
The victim with ‘multiple serious injuries’ was taken to a Major Trauma Centre, with doctors in the ambulance providing care en route. The other four were all treated by medics before being taken to hospital.
West Midlands Ambulance Service sent four ambulances, two paramedics officers a MERIT trauma doctor and critical care paramedic to the scene.
A service spokeswoman said the first resource arrived in five minutes and added: ‘On arrival, crews found five patients.
‘The first patient, a male pedestrian, was treated by ambulance crews for multiple serious injuries.
‘He was taken to a Major Trauma Centre for further treatment with MERIT travelling on board to continue care en route.
‘Four other men, also pedestrians, were all treated by medics for potentially serious injuries and conveyed to hospital for further treatment.’
Police have now launched an urgent manhunt for the driver of the car.
In a statement, West Midlands Police said: ‘We are investigating after a number of people were injured after, it is believed, they were deliberately driven at in Birmingham this morning.
A police cordon remains in place outside the nightclub following the incident last night
Officers are still hunting for the driver following the attack (pictured are police at the scene)
A forensic officer places down evidence markers at the scene of the crash on Friday
Police and forensics officers pictured at the scene on Livery Street in Birmingham on Friday
A forensic officers takes pictures on a mounted camera at the scene on Friday
Forensics officers have placed evidence markers along Livery Street where the crash took place on Friday
‘We were called to Livery Street shortly after 3am after a report of a disorder involving a group.
‘Officers attended and five people were found injured.
‘One man was arrested on suspicion of affray and remains in custody at this time, while we are still actively searching for the driver and the car involved.
‘We are treating this incident as a targeted attack and are stepping up our patrols in the area today for reassurance.
‘We are asking anyone who saw what happened, especially those with photos or video, to get in touch with us via 101 or Live Chat quoting log 315 of 4 October.
‘We remain at the scene this morning while our enquiries continue.’
It’s unclear whether the club will open tonight following the hit-and-run.
A spokesman from the Tunnel Club told MailOnline they ‘didn’t really know what was happening’ and declined to comment further as there was an ‘on-going police investigation’.
MailOnline has approached the University of Birmingham and Birmingham City University for comment.
