Status: 03/20/2022 12:13 p.m
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A car drove into a group of people at a carnival event in Strépy-Bracquegnies, Belgium. At least six people were killed and many injured. Investigators are currently assuming it was an accident.
In the early morning in the Belgian town of Strépy-Bracquegnie, a driver drove his car into a group of people. At least six people were killed, the prosecutor confirmed. As a spokesman for the rescue services said at a press conference in the morning, ten injured people are also in critical condition. 27 people suffered minor injuries.
Car races in group of carnivalists
Tagesschau 2:00 p.m., 20.3.2022
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It is still unclear why the vehicle drove into the group of people. A spokesman for the public prosecutor’s office only emphasized that there was no evidence of a terrorist background. According to him, the people in the vehicle came from the region and were arrested. They were previously unknown to the authorities and were born in 1988 and 1990 respectively.
According to the mayor of the municipality, Jacques Gobert, the car had crashed into the crowd at high speed. According to Gobert, the incident happened at 5 a.m. A group of around 150 to 200 participants in the carnival celebrations were leaving the sports hall to head back to the center of the village when the car crashed into the crowd, he said, according to Belga. “The driver continued his journey, but we intercepted him.”
The Belgian municipality of Strépy-Bracquegnies is located about 40 kilometers southwest of Brussels and, according to the overriding city of La Louvière, recently had almost 9,000 inhabitants.
“The police are currently assuming an accident,” Roman Rusch, ARD Brussels
tagesschau24 10:00 a.m., 20.3.2022
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Drama instead of party
A moderator from the Belgian radio station RTL, who took part in the carnival event, reported on dramatic scenes. According to him, the car drove into the middle of the crowd. “There was music and laughter and three seconds later there were screams. It was terrible,” the broadcaster quoted him as saying.
According to the mayor of La Louvière, the municipal emergency plan was triggered and the victim support service activated. Belgian Interior Minister Annelies Verlinden wrote on Twitter that her deepest condolences go to the families and friends of those killed and injured. “What was supposed to be a great party turned into drama.”
Belgian Prime Minister Alexander De Croo also expressed his sympathy and spoke of “terrible news” from Strépy-Bracquegnies.
Belgium: Car crashes into crowd at carnival celebrations
Alexander Göbel, ARD Brussels, 20.3.2022 09:59 a.m
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