BELGIUM Six killed after car slams into crowd of people preparing for carnival parade, say authorities

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Belgium: Six killed after car slams into crowd of people preparing for carnival parade, say authorities​


The vehicle hit people who had gathered at dawn on Sunday for the start of parade celebrations in the village of Strepy-Bracquegnies, which is about 30 miles south of Brussels.


Monday 21 March 2022 05:36, UK




Six people have been killed and 10 others seriously injured after a car driven at high speed slammed into a group of carnival performers in Belgium, say authorities.
The vehicle hit people who had gathered at dawn on Sunday for the start of parade celebrations in the village of Strepy-Bracquegnies, which is about 30 miles south of Brussels.

The mayor of the neighbouring town of La Louviere, Jacques Gobert, told RTBF radio: "A car drove from the back at high speed. We have a few dozen injured and unfortunately several people who are killed."

Two arrests made
The driver
of the vehicle and a second person were arrested when it came to a halt.
Officers have denied media reports that the car may have been chased by police before the crash.
Police at the scene of the crash

Image: Police at the scene of the crash
And the incident did not appear to be a terror attack, according to prosecutors.

Mr Gobert said around 150 people were gathering to get ready for the annual folklore parade, involving costumes and drums, when the vehicle approached.

"A speeding car drove into the crowd...The driver then continued on his way," he said.


'People were screaming, it was horrible'
A reporter who witnessed the tragedy, Bel RTL's Fabrice Collignon, said: "We were on a long straight line and there was more or less 150 people. We heard a huge noise coming from behind the company and the car literally drove into the group of people.
"It's a scene I never thought I'd see in my life. Everyone was on the ground. People were screaming. There was music and smiles and three seconds later, it was screaming. It was horrible."

People console each other in the village of Strepy-Bracquegnies

Image: People console each other in Strepy-Bracquegnies
Authorities in La Louviere said as well as those who died and were seriously injured, 27 were slightly hurt and nearly 70 others directly affected.
Belgian interior minister Annelies Verlinden said: "What should have been a great party turned into a tragedy."

People walk down the street after a car hit people in Strepy-Bracquenies, Belgium

Image: Performers pictured in Strepy-Bracquenies following the fatal crash earlier in the day. Pic: AP

A performer speaks on a phone, after a car hit people in Strepy-Bracquenies, Belgium. Pic: AP

Image: Pic: AP
French language media outlet RTBF reported that the driver attempted to continue along the road following the collision around 5am local time (4am UK) but was intercepted.
It said the group had just left the Omnisports hall to go, via the Rue des Canadiens, towards the centre when the collision happened.
A judicial inquiry has been launched and accident investigation experts are at the scene to work out what happened.
It was the first time the carnival was scheduled to take place since 2019, after it was cancelled in 2020 and 2021 because of the COVID pandemic.
Carnival parades and festivities are common in the low countries before and during lent with many of those taking part dressing up in a traditional masked costume, dancing to music and handing out oranges.
 
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