The eight-year-old son of a Chasidic rabbi has died after he was hit by a car as he fled fireworks being aimed in his direction.

Elchonon Kohn, from Hackney in east London, died of injuries sustained in the accident on Sunday night.

A student at the Satmar Cheder in London, he is said to have run out into a quiet residential street after being frightened by fireworks aimed in his direction last Wednesday (November 11).

He was then hit by a black Seat which was driven by a man in his twenties. The man is believed to be part of the Chasidic community.

Elchonon’s funeral is believed to have taken place on Monday. A member of the community said the parents were “grieving”.

A police spokeswoman confirmed that the Seat driver had been arrested on suspicion of dangerous driving.

She said: “The driver of the car involved, a man aged in his 20s, stopped at the scene and was arrested on suspicion of dangerous driving.

“He was taken to an east London police station and was subsequently bailed pending further inquiries to a police station on a date in mid-November.

“Officers from the Roads and Transport Policing Command [are] investigat[ing] and appeal to anyone who witnessed the collision, or the events leading up to the collision, to contact them on 020 8597 4874.”

She added: “Our inquiries continue into the circumstances of the collision.”