Your support helps us to tell the story
From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.
At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.
The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.
Your support makes all the difference.A taxi has ploughed into a crowd, including World Cup fans, in central Moscow, injuring eight.
Two Mexico supporters were among those hurt during the incident in the city’s Ilyinka Street, close to Red Square on Saturday.
Video footage captured by a security camera apparently shows the yellow cab swerving, mounting a pavement and accelerating into the crowd. The vehicle is seen driving several metres with people clinging to the bonnet before it crashes into a road sign.
The driver, who has been identified as Kyrgyzstan national Anarbek Chyngyz, appears to try to flee the scene, but is caught and held by onlookers.
“He was pulled out of the vehicle, he ran off but bystanders apprehended him. He was shouting: ‘It wasn’t me’,” according to a witness quoted by The Sun.
The incident comes as Russia is on a heightened terror alert while hosting this summer’s World Cup. But authorities have since claimed they believed the incident was not intentional.
They said Mr Chyngyz has been charged with several traffic violations but did not announce any other charges, according to the Interfax news agency in the Russian capital.
Apparently playing down the incident, Mayor Sergei Sobyanin later tweeted: “There was an unpleasant incident with a taxi. The driver lost control of the vehicle.”
None of those hurt are understood to be in a critical condition, although one woman has sustained serious injuries. A Russian and Ukrainian were also among those who were taken to hospital.
The street – about 200m from Moscow’s famous GUM shopping arcade – was blocked off for a short period but has now reopened.
Mexico are due to play Germany in their first group game at the city’s Luzhniki Stadium on Sunday.
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies
Comments