RAODS AND three intersections were cordoned off by police after a serious incident close to a mosque in Normanton, Derby, this afternoon. A significant police presence remained in the area, some 4 and half hours after police were initially called.

Local residents claimed they were asked to evacuate their homes by police around lunchtime, while the intersections of Leacroft Road and Catherine Street, Leacroft Road and Malcolm Street, and much of Malcolm Street itself were sealed off by police tape.

Responding to questions by The Voice, Derbyshire police said they “were called to an incident in Malcolm Street, Derby, at 1.10pm.

“At the scene a 43-year-old man was found in a car which had collided with another vehicle. The man was arrested at the scene on suspicion of a public order offence.”, police added.

“There is no evidence to suggest that this is terror related at this time”

Derby Police

Several residents of the affected streets could be seen milling outside the police cordons, while some assisted police with their enquiries.

“Someone went into the mosque with a knife and police arrested him”, a local resident who declined to be identified in relation to the story said.

The incident occurred very close to the Faizan e Madina, where there is an Islamic religious centre, leading to fears the incident may have been of a terrorist nature.

However, Police told The Voice that there had been no evidence that the incident was terror related, nor had there been a knife attack inside the mosque as some residents had claimed.

“There is no evidence to suggest that this is terror related at this time. There was no knife attack.”

SUSPECT

Police also added that there was no indication that the suspect who has been arrested had attacked the public with his motor vehicle.

“There is no evidence to suggest the individual has driven at pedestrians.”

A significant police presence remains in the area as police conduct enquiries. “Officers remain in the area and enquiries are ongoing,” Derbyshire police confirmed