Football coach among six killed after car ploughed into crowds at Belgium carnival
A POPULAR football coach has been identified as one of the six victims who were killed at a Belgium carnival when a car ploughed into the crowd.
The horrifying incident happened at around 5am in Strépy-Bracquegnies near La Louvière in the province of Hainaut, 27 miles south of the capital Brussels.
At least six people were killed and 26 others were injured, ten of them seriously, according to Belgium authorities.
Fred Cicero, an employee with L’Association des Clubs Francophones de Football (ACFF), has been identified by the association as one of the victims of the tragedy.
The organisation paid tribute to Cicero in a Facebook post.
It said: “The ACFF is in mourning.
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“Fred Cicero is one of the victims of the Strépy tragedy. He was a valued employee of the ‘Formation des Cadres’ department. Rest in peace, Fred.”
The ACFF is responsible for French-speaking amateur football.
Cicero had been the technical director for youth development of ‘Entité Manageoise’, but had decided to switch to RUS Binche, where he was due to take up the role of general manager of the club on July 1, according to La Nouvelle Gazette.
Young players also expressed the condolences, with one writing: “Thank you for always being there for me, for being my coach for several years, for always giving me good advice.
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Rest in peace, we will never forget you.”
Laure Gara, who managed the bar for RAEC Mons, has also been named locally as one of the victims.
The football club confirmed the sad news in a Facebook post.
“She was very involved, and always did her job with a smile. She loved the club,” Gillian Hermand, the communications manager at RAEC Mons, also told Sudinfo.
A third victim, named as Frederic d’Andrea, also had ties to football.
D’Andrea was a steward at the region’s football club, RAAL La Louvière.
The club said in a social media post: “Words fail us. Our most sincere thoughts go out to Frédéric d’Andrea, admirable steward of the club, whose life was taken away in the early morning.”
“I was surprised to hear the news this morning,” said pal Chris Sallendre, among others.
‘REST IN PEACE’
“I didn’t want to believe it, it took me a while to realise it. You were so happy to be able to celebrate Carnival again, you were counting down the days. And then suddenly there was this… I don’t even have words to write what I feel. Rest in peace, my friend.”
Mario Cascarano and his wife Micaela Imperiale have also been named locally as victims of the tragedy, according to La Nouvelle Gazette.
“We will miss you and your joie de vivre,” a colleague of the man said.
Micaela’s brother, Salvatore Imperiale, is also said to be among those killed.
Colleague Noémy Bastin called him “comrade, colleague, but above all friend,” on social media, according a HLN report.
“You were always the first to get involved. You were a true militant. You leave a great void in our delegation.”
Police have opened a criminal enquiry after what eyewitnesses said looked like a “deliberate attack” by the driver.
TWO MEN ARRESTED
Two men, one born in 1988 and one born in 1990, have been arrested, prosecutor Damien Verheyen said at a press conference on Sunday.
He added that nothing at this stage suggests a terrorist motive for the attack.
La Louvière Mayor Jacques Gobert said: “There are no words for this, it is horrible.
“I arrived shortly after the disaster. Seeing those bodies scattered on the road, you can not imagine that something like this can happen here and yet it happened.”
“We heard an immense noise…and the car literally went into the group of people,” said Bel RTL reporter Fabrice Collignon, who witnessed the event.
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“A speeding car drove into the crowd…The driver then continued on his way, but we intercepted him,” said Gobert.
Prime Minister Alexander De Croo said on Sunday morning: “Horrible news from Strépy-Bracquegnies. A community gathering to celebrate was struck in the heart.”
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