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Police operation in Belgium (symbolic image): Four dead after an incident
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In Belgium, a vehicle drove into a group of people at a carnival event.
Four people were killed in the incident in the town of Strépy-Bracquegnies on Sunday morning, according to the Belgian news agency Belga, citing the mayor.
The public broadcaster RTBF also reports at least seven seriously and 15 slightly injured people.
It is unclear whether the vehicle was intentionally driven into the group of people.
According to the mayor, the driver initially drove on, but was then stopped.
Event with 150 people
A moderator from the Belgian radio station RTL, who took part in the carnival event, reported on dramatic scenes.
According to him, the car drove into the middle of the crowd.
According to the mayor of La Louvière, the municipal emergency plan was triggered and the victim support service activated.
Belgian Interior Minister Annelies Verlinden wrote on Twitter that her deepest condolences go to the families and friends of those killed and injured.
"What was supposed to be a great party turned into drama."
The Belgian municipality of Strépy-Bracquegnies is located about 40 kilometers southwest of Brussels and, according to the overriding city of La Louvière, recently had almost 9,000 inhabitants.
According to estimates, around 150 people attended the "Ramassage des Gilles" on Sunday morning.
The participants go from house to house to gather for the carnival.
The central figure is the »Gilles«, who traditionally wear wax masks with painted glasses and a little beard.
According to the Belgian news agency Belga, the carnival season in La Louvière only started at the beginning of March after strict corona restrictions were lifted.
In 2020 and 2021 the carnival had to be canceled completely due to Corona.
jpz/dpa
