Four dead after car drives at high speed into carnival parade in Belgium

Four people have been killed and dozens are seriously injured after a car drove at high speed into a carnival parade in Belgium.

A crowd of more than 100 revellers gathered at dawn for the celebrations in the small town of Strepy-Bracquegnies, near Brussels.

‘A car drove from the back at high speed. We have a few dozen injured and unfortunately several people are dead,’ the town’s mayor Jacques Gobert said.

Local reports suggest the car was being pursued by police before ploughing into the parade.

The driver was reportedly arrested after attempting to continue along the road following the collision.

At least 20 carnival revellers are now believed to be seriously injured.

The celebrations had been eagerly awaited by the community who were supposed to be enjoying their first carnival since the pandemic began.

‘What should have been a great party turned into a tragedy,’ Belgian Interior Minister Annelies Verlinden said.

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