BRUSSELS (Reuters) – A automobile drove at excessive pace into a bunch of Belgian carnival performers who have been making ready a parade early on Sunday, killing four individuals and badly injuring seven others, Belgian media stated.
Those within the automobile, which native media stated was a automotive, have been detained. The reason for the incident was not instantly identified. Police couldn’t instantly be reached for remark. A information convention was set for 1000 GMT, state broadcaster RTBF stated.
The incident occurred within the southern Belgium village of Strepy-Bracquegnies at round 0400 GMT, RTBF stated.
News web site Bel RTL quoted Jacques Gobert, mayor of the neighbouring city of La Louviere, as saying round 150 individuals have been gathered to prepare for the annual folklore parade, involving costumes and drums, when the automobile appeared.
“We heard an immense noise…and the automotive actually went into the group of individuals,” stated Bel RTL reporter Fabrice Collignon, who witnessed the occasion.
“A rushing automotive drove into the group…The driver then continued on his manner, however we intercepted him,” stated Gobert.
Belgium has sought to root out individuals suspected of militant hyperlinks over the previous seven years. A Brussels-based Islamic State cell was concerned in assaults on Paris in 2015 that killed 130 individuals and on Brussels in 2016 through which 32 died.
RTBF quoted native authorities as saying 15 additionally suffered mild accidents within the incident.
(Reporting by Robin Emmott; Editing by Mark Heinrich)
