THE taxi driver who rammed into a crowd of World Cup fans in Moscow ran away because he thought the crowd of people “were going to kill” him.

Kyrgyzstan-born Anarbek Uulu, 28, ploughed into pedestrians near Moscow's Red Square last night after claiming he accidentally slammed down on the accelerator.

16 This is the moment the taxi driver flees after ploughing into World Cup fans in Moscow, injuring seven Credit: East2West

Video footage showed the yellow Hyundai taxi pull sharply out of a line of stationery traffic, accelerate and mount the narrow pavement, which was packed with pedestrians.

The vehicle drove for about 10 metres along the pavement, bowling over pedestrians, with some of them being carried along on the bonnet of the car.

The taxi came to a partial halt after hitting a traffic sign. Uulu then ran away from the car, but was tackled by bystanders.

He told police he fled because he thought the people chasing after him were going to attack him.

Mexican supporters gearing up to watch their nation's opening match against world champions Germany today were among those hurt.

Two Mexican citizens, both women, were injured, the Mexican embassy in Moscow said. No one is reported to have died in the incident.

Among the others injured were a Ukrainian and two Russian citizens, according to TASS news agency.

Taxi driver Chyngyz Anarbek Uulu who ploughed into World Cup fans​ insists he 'passed out' moments mowed down pedestrians

16 Witnesses claimed the driver shouted 'It wasn't me' as he tried to flee Credit: East2West News

16 The driver veered off the road and into a crowd of unsuspecting football fans Credit: East2West

16 Horrified onlookers rushed to pull open the driver's side door Credit: East2West

16 The driver, in custody, insisted he had not driven into the crowd on purpose Credit: East2west News

Moscow police said the driver may have been drunk and “lost control of the vehicle” but anti-terror forces are now investigating his background.

His postings on a Russian social media platform show he’s a martial arts fanatic who has “liked” posts about the army in his homeland of Kyrgyzstan, a mainly Muslim ex-Soviet republic.

He’s also posted pictures of soldiers at Muslim prayers.

The 28-year-old won a bronze medal last year at the world Pankration – a form of “no rules” fighting - championships in Sochi.

16 Onlookers detained the fleeing driver until cops arrived

16 The driver after he was arrested by Moscow Police. He said he fled because he thought the crowd of people "were going to kill" him Credit: East2West News

16 Moscow Traffic Police shared this image of Anarbek Uulu's licence Credit: Twitter/gucodd

An eye-witness to shocking taxi crash in Moscow says she was ’trembling’ with fear

Uulu, in custody, insisted he hadn’t driven into the crowd on purpose, according to footage published on the Moscow police website.

The city's police said they had opened a criminal investigation into suspected violation of the traffic code.

Moscow Mayor Sergei Sobyanin said in a post on Twitter: "There was an unpleasant incident with a taxi. The driver lost control of the vehicle."

16 His postings on a Russian social media platform show he’s a martial arts fanatic Credit: East2west News

16 The married Moscow taxi driver won a bronze medal in a "no rules" form of fighting Credit: East2west News

Uulu said he had been at the wheel for more than 20 hours when the crash happened and had pressed the accelerator by mistake.

"I wanted to brake, I wanted to let someone through," he said, while visibly upset. "I switched off for a second and hit the accelerator...then I saw the people."

Explaining why he ran away, he said: “I was afraid…they would have killed me, there were so many people there.”

16 Onlookers chased the 28-year-old after he tried to flee the scene Credit: East2West News

16 Emergency services at the scene of the smash in Moscow Credit: Twitter/gucodd

He went on: “I wanted to go home…I had some 100m to reach my client.

“Then I planned to go home, to have a sleep, but it happened.”

He added: “I was recently checked, all was good, I have never violated any rules in the Russian Federation.

“Everything was OK. Everybody at work respected me.”

Moscow's traffic management authority said the driver was not drunk and Interfax news agency cited a source saying there was no alcohol in his blood.

While in custody Uulu told police he “didn’t drink and didn’t smoke”.

16 Police believe the driver lost control of the vehicle before he mounted the pavement Credit: Twitter/gucodd

The driver told police he had not driven into the crowd on purpose.

But one witness, who was across the road at the time of the crash, said it did not appear to be accidental.

"I have the feeling that he did it deliberately because he was in the traffic jam with the cars going really slowly," said Viktoria Geranovich, "How could he lose control of the wheel, push the gas and drive into the crowds?"

She said "mostly girls" were knocked down, but people rushed to help and the ambulance arrived quickly. "Thank god everything went well. It's scary that this happened in the very centre."

Taxi that ploughed into pedestrians in Moscow, Russia is cleared away after first World Cup scare

16 The incident happened not far from the Kremlin and Red Square, an area packed with tourists Credit: Reuters

16 Onlookers watch as the damaged taxi is taken away Credit: Reuters

16 Police officers stand guard after the taxi ran into crowds of people in central Moscow Credit: Reuters

A witness at the scene told Reuters about the driver of the taxi: "He was pulled out of the vehicle, he ran off but bystanders apprehended him. He was shouting: 'It wasn't me'."

Another witness, Viktoria Geraimovich, said she called the emergency services on her mobile phone.

Describing the actions of the driver, she said: "He ran into a group of Mexicans. There were shouts, moans. He was only stopped because he hit a traffic sign.

"Someone gave him a punch in the face. He stayed in the car, people came up to him, said what are you doing, punched him in the face, he opened the door and tried to run away."

She added: "It's scary that it was in the centre (of Moscow) and I was right opposite.”

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A medical source cited by Interfax said none of the people hospitalised were critically injured.

Russian authorities have vowed to host a safe soccer World Cup, which is taking place in 11 cities until July 15.

In central Moscow, authorities have installed heavy concrete blocks across the entrances to pedestrianised areas following a spate of incidents across Europe in which vehicles were used to mow down people.

Mexico play Germany at 4pm today in their first World Cup match at Moscow's Luzhniki stadium.

A police spokesman said: “According to preliminary information, seven individuals asked for medical assistance.

“Preliminary cause of the crash is difficulties with driving.

“The driver has been detained and has been taken to territorial police department.

“The check is being run.”

Uulu's wife is named as Aida Zholdozh Kyzy, 29, is from Jalal-Abad city in Kyrgyzstan, some 2,360 miles south-east of Moscow.

She has not so far commented on the incident.

The couple are believed to have one daughter aged around four years old.