MADRID, 20 (EUROPE PRESS)
At least six people have died and 37 have been injured, including 10 seriously, after a vehicle with two occupants on board, now detained, ran over a crowd celebrating a carnival party in the Belgian town of Strépy this morning. -Bracquegnies, municipality of La Louvière, in the southeast of the country.
The event took place around 05:00 (local time), according to the mayor of the municipality, Jacques Gobert, when the vehicle hit “from behind and at high speed” a crowd “between 150 and 200 people” who were participating in the opening of the carnival.
The mayor had previously reported that the occupants of the vehicle had tried to leave the scene of the crash, but were intercepted shortly after.
The detainees are 32 and 34 years old, they are natives of the municipality and, in principle, they do not seem to have a criminal record. His case is now in the hands of an investigating judge, who is preparing a homicide investigation. Deputy prosecutor Damien Verheyen rules out, for the moment, a terrorist motive.
Thus, the latest balance of the emergency services has found six deaths, a dozen seriously injured, another 20 people injured in a minor state and 70 affected who have already been discharged and who are now giving a statement at the Strépy-Sports Center. Bracquegnies.
The emergency services do not find minors among the injured.
Belgian Prime Minister Alexander De Croo has lamented the tragedy. “Horrible news from Strépy-Bracquegnies. A community that came together to celebrate was struck to the heart. My heart goes out to the victims and their loved ones. All my support also goes to the emergency services for their help and assistance provided,” has declared in a statement collected by RTBF.
The Minister of the Interior, Annelies Verlinden, has already expressed her condolences through Twitter. “My deepest condolences to the families and friends of those killed and injured in the incident this morning in Strépy. What was supposed to be a nice party turned into a tragedy,” she said.