A Land Rover has crashed into a primary school in Wimbledon leaving one dead and several others injured on the last day of term, with a number of those understood to be fighting for their lives.
Police said an eight-year-old girl had died, while 16 people were injured and treated at the scene.
Earlier, police said at least seven children and two adults had been injured in the incident.
Pictures from the scene show a huge emergency services presence as personnel have been responding to the “major incident” at Wilberforce House, The Study Preparatory School on Camp Road on Thursday morning.
The force confirmed an investigation into what happened is underway, adding the incident is not being treated as terror-related— (PA)
Police confirmed that the driver of the vehicle, a woman aged in her 40s, has been arrested on suspicion of causing death by dangerous driving on Thursday.
An investigation into what happened is underway, police confirmed.
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What happened?
The Metropolitan Police said it was called at 9.54am to reports a car crashed into a building at the school.
London Fire Brigade attended the scene, alongside 15 ambulances and an air ambulance.
It is understood the Land Rover was being driven by a woman who suffered a medical incident, reported the Evening Standard. Police said the driver of the vehicle stopped at the scene.
The gold Land Rover reportedly crashed through an “end-of-term tea party”, a local reportedly told the Evening Standard.
Another person allegedly told the Mirror “the children were sat on the grass with their teachers” as the tea party was reportedly underway when the collision occurred.
The London Ambulance Service said 16 people were treated at the scene.
A woman has now been arrested on suspicion of dangerous driving, police said, after one child died and at least seven children and two adults were injured on the last day of term.
Who are the victims?
An eight-year-old girl has died following the crash, police said. Meanwhile, 16 people were injured in the incident and treated at the scene .
Earlier, police said at least seven children and two adults had been injured in the incident.
A number of those injured are being treated as critical, according to Stephen Hammond, the Conservative MP for Wimbledon.
Where is the school?
Wilberforce House, The Study Preparatory School, is located on Camp Road in Wimbledon, South London.
The school, which costs £5,565 per term, is for girls aged four to 11 and sits on Wimbledon Common, just a mile away from the All England Lawn Tennis and Croquet Club as it hosts the world-famous tennis tournament.
Wimbledon resident Julie Atwood said: “My daughter used to go to this school. It’s a girls’ school. Wimbledon is like a little village. For this to happen in Wimbledon is unheard of. It’s terrible.”
What have police said?
Police are not treating the incident as terror-related.
A large police cordon is in place stretching onto Wimbledon Common where officers are moving dog walkers and passers-by away from the scene. An air ambulance is still on the edge of the Common and a number of ambulances are parked nearby.
Detective Chief Superintendent Clair Kelland, local police commander for south west London, said: “This is tragic news and our thoughts are with the girl’s family and friends, and everyone affected today.
“We remain at the scene and are continuing our investigation into the full circumstances of the incident.”
The police said they would provide further updates when possible.
Pictures from the scene show a huge emergency services presence as personnel have been responding to the “major incident” at Wilberforce House, The Study Preparatory School on Camp Road on Thursday morning— (BBC)
Stephen Hammond MP for Wimbledon said he is “very concerned” to hear about the “major incident”, adding: “My thoughts and prayers go out to everyone at The Study.”
Scenes in Wimbledon, south London, where a car has collided with a primary school building— (Victoria Jones/PA Wire)
Speaking to BBC News, Mr Hammond said: “Extraordinarily distressing and tragic incident on the last day of term… there has actually been a major incident declared. The air ambulance, the ambulance, the fire services, and the police are all in attendance.”
He added: “The size of the response tells you how serious the incident is and there are a number of casualties, and I understand that a number of those are being treated as critical.”
A Land Rover has crashed into a primary school in Wimbledon leaving seven children and two adults injured, police have said— (PA)
Mayor of London Sadiq Khan described the incident as “devastating” and said: “My heart goes out to everyone affected.”
Home Secretary Suella Braverman said she was “saddened to hear about the tragic incident at the school in Wimbledon this morning”, adding in a tweet: “My thoughts are with everyone affected. I would like to thank emergency responders at the scene. It is important they are now able to carry out their investigation.”
Shadow home secretary Yvette Cooper tweeted: “Thinking of all the families, pupils and staff affected by the terrible incident at a primary school in Wimbledon this morning. Thank you to the emergency services on site for their swift response.”
Stephen Hammond, the Conservative MP for Wimbledon, said he understands a “number of those are being treated as critical” in a “major incident” that happened on the last day of term— (Sky News)
Wilberforce House, The Study Preparatory School have declined to comment to The Independent.
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