Five people were believed to be struck down when a driver fled an angry mob in a Ravensthorpe street.
Amid fears that a robbery gang targeting Asian families had descended on Charles Street, a group of locals confronted the drivers of three suspicious cars.
One of the cars, a silver Vauxhall Insignia estate, sped off down the narrow one-way residential street, veering onto the kerb and hitting five young people.
He then smashed into the side of a parked Audi, leaving it badly damaged.
The driver then abandoned the car and ran across the Ravensthorpe Gyratory to the Ravensthorpe Shopping Park, followed by furious locals.
The man dived into the Subway store and locked himself in the toilet. Police were called as officers kept an angry mob of up to 150 people at bay outside.
The drama happened around 8.30pm on Thursday amid fears that raiders who have struck at five Asian homes since September were casing homes in Ravensthorpe.
A shocked witness said: “He was using his car as a ram. He was ramming people. It was like something out of a movie. He could have killed somebody.”
Another man said: “We want people to know what is happening. Asian families have lots of gold and these robbers come round at 7pm when elderly people or women are home alone and smash their way in.
“It’s happened in Savile Town and Batley but we are not going to take it in Ravensthorpe.
“We are just normal people. We do our day job and come home. People are trying to rob us and we are not going to take it anymore.
“It’s like gang warfare. We are not in America with these wannabe gangsters.
“There’s a lot of anger here. If the local community had got hold of the lad from the Insignia he wouldn’t be alive.
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“What are the police doing about it? These criminals are operating without fear.”
Police arrested a 17-year-old man at the Subway on suspicion of wounding with intent and he remains in custody.
Mr David Cameron, who runs the Subway store, said two of his female staff were in the shop at the time. They were shocked but unhurt.
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Detectives were still trying to piece together exactly what happened. Police said five people were hit by the car with one – thought to be in his late teens – needing hospital treatment for “minor” injuries.
There was still blood on the street on Friday morning.
Chief Insp Paula Booth, of Kirklees police, said around 150 people congregated on the Ravensthorpe Shopping Park and added: “Some became aggressive but police dispersed the crowd with the help and support of community representatives.
“We would like to thank the local community in advance, for supporting the police at this time and helping us to do our job.
Crime in North Kirklees
“This was a serious incident and we understand people’s concerns but some of the behaviour officers had to deal with was unacceptable.
“Officers patrolled the area throughout the night and will continue to patrol the area to provide reassurance and talk to witnesses.”
Anyone with any information should contact Kirklees police on 101 or ring Crimestoppers, anonymously, on 0800 555 111.
