Suspect, 26, ‘who fled to Tenerife after car was deliberately driven into pedestrians in Kent’ is charged with attempted murder after being extradited from Spain
- Bradley Knapp was named Kent’s ‘most wanted’ and arrested by Spanish police
- He was filmed handcuffed in Tenerife by cops wearing only shorts and sandals
- He’s been remanded in custody to appear at Maidstone Crown Court next month
Bradley Knapp was named as one of the UK’s ‘most wanted’ after a vehicle was reportedly seen driven at a number of pedestrians in Dartford High Street in October 2019
A fugitive who sparked a major international manhunt when he went on the run after he allegedly tried to mow down pedestrians in Kent has been charged with attempted murder.
Bradley Knapp was named as one of the UK’s ‘most wanted’ after a vehicle was reportedly seen driven at a number of pedestrians in Dartford High Street.
Two of the victims were left with severe injuries following the incident outside The Clipper pub on October 11 2019.
The 26-year-old was arrested by Spanish authorities in Tenerife on September 29, and following legal proceedings, extradited and handed over to Kent Police’s custody on Monday.
Upon returning to the UK, he has been charged with attempted murder, grievous bodily harm, causing serious injury by dangerous driving and perverting the course of justice.
Knapp, of no fixed address, has also been charged with dangerous driving, assaulting an emergency services worker and handling stolen goods following an incident in Swanscombe on 16 August 2019.
He appeared at Medway Magistrates’ Court on Tuesday and has been remanded in custody to next appear at Maidstone Crown Court on November 24.
Knapp was arrested in Tenerife by Spanish police last month dressed in shorts and sandals.
Filmed bare-chested in handcuffs after his arrest, Knapp was named as one of Kent’s ‘most wanted’ after an incident outside the pub in which a Ford Fiesta was driven at a group of pedestrians.
At the time of his arrest last month, a spokesman for the National Police, confirmed the detention, saying: ‘National Police officers have arrested in Tenerife one of the UK’s most wanted men.
‘He was the subject of a European Arrest Warrant issued by the UK authorities for attempted murder.
‘He was also wanted for crimes of wounding, a traffic offence and robbery.
‘He was arrested as he left a leisure port called Puerto Colon in Playa de las Americas in the south of Tenerife in a car which officers intercepted.
‘The UK’s National Crime Agency alerted us in July that he could be in Spain.
Knapp (pictured) was arrested in Tenerife by Spanish police last month dressed in shorts and sandals
‘He was eventually tracked down to Tenerife where detectives obtained evidence he was being helped to remain on the run by other Brits.’
The spokesman added in a statement: ‘He was being hunted over an incident in the summer of 2016 when several police officers spotted him inhaling laughing gas in a vehicle.
‘He reacted by speeding off through residential areas, driving at several cars including a police car.
‘He tried to flee on foot after leaving the vehicle, causing injuries to chasing officers and resisting arrest.
‘A subsequent investigation showed the car had been stolen and carried false number plates.
‘In October 2019, after getting into a fight with another individual, he got into a car which was also discovered to be stolen, and attacked victims with an iron bar.
‘In his flight in the vehicle he entered a busy pedestrian area where he ran over two people and caused them severe injuries.
‘To avoid his arrest, he fled the UK using a passport in another name.’