The dead go up to 6 after a carnival group hit a car in Belgium

Brussels, 20 Mar At least six people died this Sunday after ramming a car a carnival procession in the town of Strépy-Bracquegnies, south of Belgium, local authorities said at a press conference, at which they also reported 10 serious injuries and 27 minor injuries. The police have arrested the two people traveling in the vehicle and an investigation has been opened for murder, although the Prosecutor's Office does not give preference to the terrorist motive. Between 4.30 and 5.00 in the morning local time a vehicle accelerated against a group of between 150 and 200 people accompanying the Gilles, traditional carnival characters from various locations in southern Belgium. Initially, four deaths were reported, but later the health authorities informed the press that the balance had increased to six, while ten people were “fighting for their lives”. The mayor of the city, Jacques Gobert, activated the disaster plan: up to eight ambulances went to the scene of the event, the most seriously injured were taken to several hospitals in the region and the city's sports center was set up as an emergency center to also attend to the victims' families with psychologists. The two persons arrested are originally from La Louvière, a town near the place of the hit, and were born in 1988 and 1990. The deputy prosecutor Damien Verheyen explained to the press that they have not yet given a statement and that they were not known to the authorities. He clarified that it is excluded that they had attacked the courtship after a police chase, as some media had initially disseminated. The investigation will determine the motive for what happened, since it is unknown whether or not the vehicle was intentionally thrown into the crowd, although witnesses say that the car accelerated before it hit. The authorities must clarify the trajectory and speed of the vehicle, which was found at another point, near where the incident took place. Verheyen stated that, at present, “they do not give preference to the terrorist track” and that “there are no elements that allow us to think that it is a terrorist attack”. The mayor ordered an end to the Carnival festivities in the region, the first to be celebrated after cancellations due to the pandemic. King Philip of the Belgians, as well as the Prime Minister, Alexander de Croo, and the Minister of the Interior, Annelies Verlinden, will come to the scene of the event to support the victims and their families. “Horrible news from Strépy-Bracquegnies. A community that gathered to celebrate was beaten all over the heart. My thoughts are with the victims and their families. I also support the emergency services, for their help and assistance,” said De Croo through his official Twitter profile. “There are no words, it's horror. Arriving at the scene shortly after the disaster, seeing those bodies scattered on the road, people suffering... You can't imagine that this can exist and, unfortunately, that is what is happening. There are no words, it's dramatic,” said Gobert. The presenter of the RTL network Fabrice Collignon, who was participating in the celebrations, said that the group was on its way around the city when suddenly “we heard a huge noise coming from the rear and a car literally crashed into the group of people”. “It was a scene that I never thought I would see in my life. The car accelerated and when we realized something was going on, everyone was on the ground. People were screaming. There was music and smiles and three seconds later, screams. It was horrible,” he described. The procession of residents of Strépy-Bracquegnies accompanied several people disguised as Gilles, one of whom is among the deceased. Gilles is a traditional character of the Binche carnival, whose celebration has been recognized as a World Heritage Site by UNESCO, as well as other towns in the country. CHIEF rja/pi