Abnother 10 folks have been despatched to close by hospitals with life-threatening accidents and 27 have been “barely injured,” Deputy Crown Prosecutor Damien Verheyen mentioned.
As a gaggle of carnival-goers have been marching in direction of the city middle, “a automotive got here from the again at excessive pace and crashed into group, pulverized a lot of folks, persevering with its method earlier than stopping somewhat additional down,” La Louvière mayor Jacques Gobert informed reporters.
The two males who have been within the automotive, each from La Louvière and born in 1988 and 1990, have been arrested, Verheyen mentioned. He added {that a} “reconstruction of the information” can be held with a purpose to set up the precise route of the car and any potential motive.
The incident occurred at 5 a.m. native time. Strépy-Bracquegnies is positioned 30 miles (50km) south of Brussels.
There was no proof {that a} chase with police led to the incident, officers mentioned, opposite to earlier stories. They additionally mentioned as but “no parts” confirmed that the incident “could possibly be thought-about as a terrorist assault.”
Authorities mentioned 5 emergency autos and 16 ambulances have been despatched to the scene to move the victims to numerous hospitals within the area — 70 non-injured folks have been evacuated from the scene.
Belgium’s King Philippe and Prime Minister Alexander De Croo have been anticipated to go to the scene on Sunday at 4 p.m. native time.
De Croo wrote on Twitter that “his ideas have been with victims and their kinfolk.”
“Horrible information from Strépy-Bracquegnies. A neighborhood gathering to rejoice has been hit within the coronary heart,” he wrote.
Interior Minister Annelies Verlinden additionally tweeted her condolences “to the households and buddies to those that died and have been injured” within the incident.
“What was presupposed to be a pleasant celebration was a tragedy. We are following the state of affairs intently,” she wrote in a tweet.