Strépy Bracquegnies Dead and injured

A vehicle crashed into a group of people at a carnival event in Belgium. Six people died in the accident in the town of Strépy-Bracquegnies early Sunday morning at around 5 a.m., Belgian news agency Belga reported, citing the mayor. Among the victims is said to be a child.

 Citing the police, the report went on to say that it had apparently been a dramatic accident. Meanwhile, the public prosecutor's office also ruled out a terrorist background.

12 other people were seriously injured and about 20 slightly. About 70 people are currently being cared for in a crisis intervention center. According to the mayor, the driver initially continued driving, but was then stopped and arrested.

According to the Dutch newspaper AD, which in turn cites RTL Info, the carnival parade was scheduled to begin at 11 am. The car allegedly drove into the group from behind near a sports hall.

A presenter of the Belgian radio station RTL, who was attending the carnival event, reported dramatic scenes. According to him, the car drove into the middle of the crowd. "There was music and laughter, and three seconds later it was screams. It was terrible," the station quoted him as saying. According to him, there were about 150 people at the event. According to him, the car had accelerated.

According to estimates of the presenter, about 150 people were at the "Ramassage des Gilles" on Sunday morning. This is a parade from house to house to gather for the carnival. The central figure is the "Gilles," who traditionally wear wax masks with painted on glasses and beards.

According to the mayor of La Louvière, the municipal emergency plan was triggered and the victim assistance service was activated. Belgian Interior Minister Annelies Verlinden wrote on Twitter that her deepest condolences go out to the families and friends of those killed and injured. "What should have been a great party has turned into a drama." Belgian Prime Minister Alexander De Croo also offered his condolences, speaking of "terrible news" from Strépy-Bracquegnies.

The Belgian royal family expressed its condolences on Twitter, saying, "Our condolences and support go to the victims of the Strépy-Bracquegnies accident, their families and loved ones. We thank the emergency services for their assistance to those affected. Our thoughts are with you."

The carnival season in La Louvière had only begun in early March after strict corona restrictions were lifted, Belgian news agency Belga reported. In 2020 and 2021, the carnival had to be canceled altogether because of the corona.

The Belgian municipality of Strépy-Bracquegnies is located about 40 kilometers southwest of Brussels and last counted just under 9,000 inhabitants, according to the parent city of La Louvière.

One person has been identified as Fred Cicero