Five people have been injured after a car plowed into a group of people in a nightclub full of students celebrating Freshers’ Week.
A terrifying shooting outside The Tunnel Club – one of Birmingham’s longest-running nightclubs – has been branded a ‘targeted attack’ by police.
This incident happened at about 3am today, as hundreds of revelers gathered at the venue, formerly Subway City, for the Freshers’ Sunday party – marking the students’ opening day at the university.
A group of people were hit by a vehicle that they had ‘accidentally’ been riding in and then fled. One victim suffered ‘multiple serious injuries’ while the other four were treated for ‘potentially serious injuries’.
Police arrested one man at the scene on suspicion of affray who remains in custody and ‘actively searching’ for the driver and car involved.
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A terrifying shooting outside The Tunnel Club – one of Birmingham’s longest-running nightclubs – has been branded a ‘targeted attack’ by police (officers pictured today)
The terrifying smash happened at about 3am with five people standing outside the club injured
Police have set up a cordon around the scene as forensic officers begin sweeping the area outside The Tunnel Club
The terrifying hit-and-run took place outside The Tunnel Club – one of Birmingham’s longest-running nightclubs.
Victims with ‘multiple serious injuries’ were taken to the Major Trauma Centre, with doctors in ambulances providing treatment en route.
The other four were all treated by paramedics before being taken to hospital.
One local resident said he heard ‘screaming and fighting’ in the early hours of the morning.
He told The Mirror: ‘I heard shouting, fighting and general shouting and shouting for half an hour, which is not uncommon at night.
‘It’s amazing what happened. It must have been crowded there last night.’
Another local, who lives near the nightclub, claimed to have seen people ‘running past people in the street’.
It’s unclear if the club will be open tonight after the hit-and-run.
A spokesman for the Tunnel Club told MailOnline they ‘don’t really know what’s going on’ and declined to comment further because there was an ‘on-going police investigation’.
A police cordon remained in place outside the nightclub after the incident last night
Officers are still hunting the driver after the attack (pictured by police at the scene)
Forensic officers placed evidence markers at the crash site on Friday
Police have now launched an intensive 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 run over in Birmingham this morning.
“We were called to Livery Street shortly after 3am following reports of disorder in a group.
‘Officers arrived and five people were found injured.
“A man has been arrested on suspicion of affray and remains in custody at this time, while we are actively searching for the driver and the car involved.
“We are treating this incident as a targeted attack and have increased patrols in the area today to ensure it.
‘We are appealing to anyone who saw the incident, particularly those with photographs or video, to contact us via 101 or Live Chat quoting log 315 of October 4.
‘We remain on scene this morning as our inquiries continue.’
Police and forensic officers are pictured at the scene on Livery Street in Birmingham on Friday
A forensic officer took pictures on a camera installed at the scene there
Forensic officers have placed evidence markers along Livery Street where the crash happened on Friday
West Midlands Ambulance Service sent four ambulances, two paramedics, a MERIT trauma doctor and a critical care paramedic to the scene.
A spokesman for the service said the first source arrived within five minutes and added: ‘On arrival the crew found five patients.
“The first patient, a male pedestrian, was treated by ambulance crews for serious injuries.
‘He was taken to the Major Trauma Center for further treatment with MERIT traveling on board to continue treatment en route.
‘Four other men, as well as pedestrians, were all treated by paramedics for serious injuries and taken to hospital for further treatment.’
MailOnline has approached the University of Birmingham and Birmingham City University for comment.
