A man has been charged with four counts of attempted murder after a car mounted the pavement and hit four pedestrians on London’s Shaftesbury Avenue in the early hours of Christmas Day.
Anthony Gilheaney, 30, was allegedly behind the wheel of a Mercedes which ploughed into pedestrians, and now faces seven criminal charges over the incident in the early hours of Wednesday.
He is accused of the attempted murders of Aidan Chapman, Tyrone Itorho, Marcelo Basbus-Garcia, and Miguel Wairich, as well as allegedly causing serious injury by driving whilst disqualified.
Gilheaney, who lives in Longfield in Harlow, Essex, has also been charged with driving dangerously on Fleet Street, also on Christmas Day, and possession of a small knife in nearby Lincoln's Inn Fields.
He appeared to face all the charges for the first time at Westminster magistrates court on Friday.
A judge remanded him in custody until a hearing at the Old Bailey next month.
It is said Gilheaney had been banned from driving prior to the incident when the four pedestrians were injured.
After the incident, the Metropolitan Police said four people had been taken to hospital after a road traffic collision and reports of “a car driving on the wrong side of the road on Shaftesbury Avenue”.
Scotland Yard said one of the injured people remains in hospital in “critical condition”.
“The suspect was arrested within minutes of his violent attack in the early hours of Christmas Day in Central London”, said Deputy Assistant Commissioner Stuart Cundy.
“Since then, investigators have worked tirelessly to build the case and have today charged Anthony Gilheaney with four counts of attempted murder.
“Our thoughts now are with the victims, one of which remains in critical condition in hospital.”
Police previously said the incident is believed to have started with an “altercation” outside a nightclub.
In the scene near to Caffe Concerto on Shaftesbury Avenue, items of clothing and possessions were seen strewn on the ground as well as signs of blood.
A police cordon was in place throughout Christmas Day, between the Gielgud Theatre where the musical Oliver is performed and the Sondheim Theatre, which is currently showing Les Miserables.
The senior officer also said the incident is not believed to be related to terrorism.
