A car collided at high speed with a group of Belgian carnivalists preparing for a parade on Sunday morning, killing six people and seriously injuring ten others, local officials said.
“There are no elements to suggest that the attack was terrorist-motivated,” prosecutor Damien Verheyen told a news conference.
Police denied media reports that the car was involved in a high-speed chase.
The incident took place in the village of Strepy-Bracquegnies in southern Belgium. Jacques Gobert, mayor of the nearby town of La Louviere, said between 150 and 200 people had gathered to prepare for the annual parade, involving costumes and drums, when the vehicle appeared.
“A speeding car hit the crowd (…) The driver then continued on his way,” said Gobert.
The two people who were in the vehicle – later intercepted – were detained. Police said they were local residents in their 30s and were not previously known to police.
Belgian Interior Minister Annelies Verlinden also commented on the incident.
“Deepest condolences to the families and friends of those killed and injured in this morning’s incident in Strépy. What was supposed to be a big party turned into a drama. We are monitoring the situation closely.”
Diep medeleven met de familie en vrienden van de mensen die omgekomen en gewond zijn bij het incident vanochtend in Strépy. Wat een mooi feest moest worden, draaide uit op een drama. We volgen de situatie op de voet.
— Annelies Verlinden (@AnneliesVl) March 20, 2022
Shooting vehicles into crowds has become more common as a weapon used by militants in Europe and white supremacists in the United States because such attacks are cheap, easy to organize and difficult to prevent, experts say. Belgium has tried to root out people suspected of extremist links for the past seven years.
A Brussels-based Islamic State cell was involved in attacks on Paris in 2015 that killed 130 people and on Brussels in 2016, in which 32 died.
Source: CNN Brasil
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