Four teenagers carrying knives have been arrested after a car drove into pedestrians on a busy London road, injuring at least three people.

A woman and two men were rushed to hospital after a silver people carrier ploughed into crowds outside the Old Queen’s Head pub, on Essex Road in Islington, just before 11pm on Saturday night.

The occupants of the car fled on foot but were later tracked down by police, who said a knife was spotted lying in the street and another blade was found inside the car.

The Metropolitan Police later said four males, aged between 17 and 19, had been arrested on suspicion of offences including GBH with intent, and possession of points and blades. All remain in custody.

Shocked eyewitnesses took to Twitter to describe the carnage left by the car after it mounted the pavement.

Jade Barlow wrote: “It’s all kicking off on Essex Road, Islington... a handful of casualties and a very large knife... hmmm.

“An abandoned knife and a handful of mowed down casualties.”

Zora Suleman wrote: “Several ppl injured after a car struck several people on Essex Rd in Islington, North London [sic].”

Police, paramedics and the National Air Service were sent to the scene and the London Ambulance Service (LAS) confirmed it took three people to hospital.

Their injuries are not thought to be life-threatening.

Tensions are high in the capital, just days after an attack outside Parliament left four people dead and at least 50 injured.

In pictures: Westminster attack Show all 9 1 / 9 In pictures: Westminster attack In pictures: Westminster attack An air ambulance lands after gunfire sounds were heard close to the Palace of Westminster in London PA wire In pictures: Westminster attack MPs wait until the situation is under control in Westminster. 'The alleged assailant was shot by armed police,' David Lidington, leader of the House of Commons, told the house. BBC News In pictures: Westminster attack Crowds gather in Westminster after shooting incident, which police are treating as terror attack BBC News In pictures: Westminster attack Police were also called to an incident on Westminster Bridge nearby AP In pictures: Westminster attack Early reports indicate the car, which mounted the pavement on Westminster Bridge and mowed into around a dozen people, was the same vehicle which then rammed into the railings of the Palace of Westminster, just around the corner Reuters In pictures: Westminster attack Security sources described the suspected assailant as a middle-aged Asian man, who is understood to have left the car before attacking a police officer with a seven-to-eight inch knife PA wire In pictures: Westminster attack Police have asked people to avoid the immediate area to allow emergency services to deal with the ongoing incident AP In pictures: Westminster attack One woman has died and a number of others, including the police officer, have been hurt, according to a junior doctor at St Thomas' Hospital Reuters In pictures: Westminster attack At least three gun shots were heard by those inside Westminster, and proceedings in the House of Commons have been suspended AP

Khalid Masood, aged 52, was shot dead after he drove into crowds on Westminster Bridge before attacking police officers with knives, fatally wounding PC Keith Palmer.

Police said Saturday’s incident was not terror related.

They released a statement saying: “Police were called at approximately 22:55hrs on Saturday, 25 March to reports of a car in collision with a number of people in Essex Road.

“Three people – two males and one female – were taken to hospital for treatment to their injuries. At this stage their injuries are not being treated as life threatening.

“The occupants decamped from the car and fled the scene on foot.

“Four males, aged between 17 and 19, have since been arrested on suspicion of a variety of offences including GBH with intent and possession of points and blades. All four remain in custody.

“Two knives were recovered at the scene; one inside the car and one found near to the car.

“Enquiries into the circumstances continue.”

An ambulance spokesman said: “We sent a number of resources to the scene including three ambulance crews, an incident response officer and a paramedic in a car.

“We treated three patients at the scene and took them as priority to hospital.”