A 28-year-old man has been charged following a serious collision in Leicester that left five pedestrians injured. The incident occurred around 12:34 a.m. on Saturday, 31 May, on De Montfort Street.
Gurwinder Singh, of Gwendolen Road, Leicester, faces four counts of causing grievous bodily harm with intent and one count of attempting to cause grievous bodily harm with intent. He appeared at Leicester Magistrates’ Court on Monday, 2 June.
Leicestershire Police reported that five individuals—four men and one woman—were injured in the collision. Two of the victims remain hospitalised with serious injuries but are in stable condition. A sixth person was identified at the scene but did not sustain injuries.
In connection with the incident, two other Leicester men were arrested. A 31-year-old was taken into custody on suspicion of causing grievous bodily harm with intent and causing serious injury by dangerous driving. A 34-year-old was arrested on suspicion of affray. Both have been released on police bail pending further inquiries.
In a statement to Asian Voice, Shivani Raja, the Member of Parliament representing Leicester said, ““I, like many others across our city, was shocked and horrified to hear of the tragic event that happened in Leicester in the early hours of Saturday morning.
“These kind of incidents in Leicester are thankfully rare - but we need to ensure that similar instances do not happen again. We must work towards ensuring our streets, no matter the time of day, are safe for everyone.
“My prayers are with the victims and their families, and my thoughts remain with all those impacted.”
Authorities have urged the public to refrain from speculation—particularly on social media—to ensure the integrity of the ongoing investigation. This incident marks the second of its kind in recent days, following the high-profile crash at Liverpool’s Premier League victory parade.
In that case, a driver rammed into a crowd, injuring 65 people, including four children. Within hours, Merseyside Police issued a press release confirming the arrest of a suspect. In an unusual move, they disclosed both the race and nationality of the individual: a 53-year-old white British man from the Liverpool area.
This level of transparency stood in stark contrast to an incident the previous summer, when speculation about the ethnicity of a 17-year-old arrested for the murder of three young girls in Southport sparked public disorder and nationwide unrest.
Merseyside Police’s decision to release details of the Liverpool suspect’s ethnicity has raised questions about precedent and consistency in police communications. According to former Metropolitan Police superintendent Dal Babu, such disclosures could pose “difficulties and challenges” for forces in the future.
Speaking at The Guardian’s First Edition podcast, Babu described the move as “unprecedented,” though he acknowledged it was likely made to counter online misinformation and pre-empt racialised narratives. “It doesn’t take rocket science to predict what will happen: the far right will twist this and say, ‘You’ve named the race because it’s a white person. Why aren’t you naming the race of the next person?’ And it will present some difficulties and challenges to the police,” he warned.
Babu emphasised that the decision to release the Liverpool suspect’s background was “correct” in this specific context, as it helped to combat “racist and Islamophobic misinformation” circulating online.
However, he urged that each case should be assessed independently, “You could imagine a situation where the far right says, ‘Oh, you haven’t named the ethnicity of this person and that’s because they are a person of colour.’
“It’s really important that people don’t see it as a precedent. Every incident will be different, and there may be circumstances where it is not appropriate to release such details.”
Vinod Popat, on behalf of Hindu Community Organisation Groups (HCOG), expressed deep concern and sadness felt across the community in Leicester, writing to Asian Voice.
In what might be proving the Point made by Dal Babu, he further added, “What has added to the community’s distress is the delay in disclosing the identity and ethnicity of the driver and victims. In the absence of clear information, speculation and anxiety began to spread, especially given Leicester’s diverse and sensitive social fabric. We believe that timely and transparent communication is essential—not just for the sake of public clarity, but to uphold trust between communities and institutions.
“In contrast, we note that in the recent Liverpool incident, Merseyside Police acted swiftly to provide critical details, including the ethnicity of the suspect. This proactive approach helped to prevent misinformation and reduced the risk of community unrest.
“HCOG urges local authorities and Leicestershire Police to consider the broader impact of delayed communication in such cases. Early and sensitive disclosure, handled responsibly, is not about assigning blame—it is about ensuring that facts guide public understanding, not assumptions or fear.”
The police might now face a crucial decision: either commit to full transparency by consistently sharing such information, or adopt a policy of withholding it entirely because selective transparency might just not work.
Asian Voice has reached out to local residents for comments on the safety concerns and is currently awaiting their responses.
