Abnother 10 individuals had been despatched to close by hospitals with life-threatening accidents and 27 had been “barely injured,” Deputy Crown Prosecutor Damien Verheyen stated.
As a gaggle of carnival-goers had been marching in direction of the city middle, “a automotive got here from the again at excessive velocity and crashed into group, pulverized numerous individuals, persevering with its method earlier than stopping just a little additional down,” La Louvière mayor Jacques Gobert advised reporters.
The 2 males who had been within the automotive, each from La Louvière and born in 1988 and 1990, had been arrested, Verheyen stated. He added {that a} “reconstruction of the details” might be held in an effort 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 situated 30 miles (50km) south of Brussels.
There was no proof {that a} chase with police led to the incident, officers stated, opposite to earlier experiences. In addition they stated as but “no parts” confirmed that the incident “could possibly be thought-about as a terrorist assault.”
Authorities stated 5 emergency automobiles and 16 ambulances had been despatched to the scene to move the victims to varied hospitals within the area — 70 non-injured individuals had been evacuated from the scene.
Belgium’s King Philippe and Prime Minister Alexander De Croo had been anticipated to go to the scene on Sunday at four p.m. native time.
“Horrible information from Strépy-Bracquegnies. A group gathering to have a good time has been hit within the coronary heart,” he wrote.
Inside Minister Annelies Verlinden additionally tweeted her condolences “to the households and mates to those that died and had been injured” within the incident.