Africa-Press – Ghana. Four people died, when a car drove into a Carnival gathering in the southern Belgian town of Strépy-Bracquegnies, in the early hours of Sunday, the Belga news agency reported, citing the local mayor.
More than 20 people were seriously injured, Belga later reported, with around 70 affected overall. The incident happened as a group of around 100 carnival-goers, was heading into the village centre.
“A speeding car ploughed into the crowd of people,” said Mayor Jacques Gobert of the nearby town of La Louvière, according to Belga.
The driver was intercepted as he tried to get away, Gobert added. It was unclear whether the incident was intentional. The town has triggered its emergency plan and victim support services.
Strépy-Bracquegnies, situated 50 kilometres south-west of Brussels, has a population of around 9,000, according to the municipality of La Louvière. The incident occurred at around 5 am (0400 GMT) during a traditional early morning Carnival ceremony.
A radio presenter with the Belgian RTL broadcaster, Fabrice Collignon, who was participating in the event, reported on dramatic scenes as the car drove into the crowd of people.
“There was music and smiles and, three seconds later, there was screaming. It was horrible,” he said according to RTL.
Interior Minister Annelies Verlinden expressed her condolences to the friends and families of those killed, as well as those injured. “What was supposed to be a friendly party turned into a drama,” Verlinden wrote on Twitter.
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