The incident occurred around 05:00 local time (01:00 Argentine time) in the Strépy-Bracquegnie carnivala district of the once industrial city of La Louvière, authorities said.
“A car traveling at high speed launched itself into the crowd that had gathered to attend (the carnival),” Mayor Jacques Gobert told the Belga news agency.
The group, which consisted of about a hundred people, had just left the sports center to return to the center of town, according to the mayor’s office in a statement.
“The car was occupied by two people who were arrested“Declared Damien Verheyen, deputy prosecutor of Mons, during a press conference in La Louvière, specifying that they were from the same town and born in 1988 and 1990, respectively.
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.
Among the 37 people injured, there are 10 “whose lives are currently in danger”said the prosecutor.
“I was walking next door,” a witness, Théo, told Belgian public television RTBF. “I turned around and saw a car heading towards people. It came very fast and did not stop. He followed and dragged a ‘gille’ (as people in disguise are known) 100 meters further,” the young man continued. “There were a lot of people on the ground.”
“Horrible news from Strépy-Bracquegnies,” Belgian Prime Minister Alexander De Croo said on Twitter. “My thoughts are with the victims and their loved ones,” added De Croo, who is expected to travel to the scene of the incident later in the day, accompanied by King Felipe.
In Belgium, cities and towns organize numerous street parades on the occasion of carnival.
Source: Ambito
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