Four dead & seven seriously injured after car ‘accelerates into crowd’ at carnival in Belgium

AT least four people have been killed after a car ploughed into a crowd at speed at a carnival in Belgium. More than seven others were seriously injured in the 5am smash in Strépy-Bracquegnies near La Louvière in the province of Hainaut, 27 miles south of the capital Brussels. RexThe suspect’s car pictured at the scene of the fatal crash[/caption] EPAPolice officers stand guard in Strepy Bracquegnies, Belgium, following the crash[/caption] EPAFour people died after a car ‘accelerated’ into a crowd at a carnival[/caption] The vehicle is said to have “accelerated” into the group of performers, who were preparing a parade, as they heard “an immense noise” behind them. There have been four confirmed fatalities, one reportedly a child. Seven others have been seriously hurt, and at least 15 people suffered minor injuries and are being treated by paramedics. A nearby sports hall has been transformed into an emergency centre, local media reports. READ MORE IN WORLD NEWS ZOO FROM HELL Tormented animals trapped in bombed zoos as Putin’s butchers invade Ukraine SCHOOL BLAST 'Women & children trapped under rubble’ after Russians 'bomb Mariupol school' Brussels-based radio station Bel RTL reported: “There were about 150 of us in a long, straight street. “We heard an immense noise behind us and a car literally drove into the group of people. It was a scene that I never imagined. “The car accelerated and by the time we realized something was up, everyone was on the ground. People were screaming, it was terrible.” Those injured had been from carnival group Les Boute en Train and were on their way into the centre of the nearby village La Louvière when tragedy struck. Most read in The Sun FIGHT NIGHT Latest reaction as Thor says Hall is welcome to rematch after FLOORING Brit STUDENT MURDER Urgent search for man, 22, after student, 19, murdered inside uni halls BABY JOY Leona Lewis expecting first child with husband Dennis 'over the moon' TV STAR'S AGONY Gogglebox star's boyfriend on life support machine after being hit by car MUST BE YOLKING There are NO free range eggs in shops from next week - here's why BRITISH BEEF AJ reveals why he's backing Eddie Hall vs Thor as Strongmen prepare to fight 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. “A speeding car drove into the crowd…The driver then continued on his way, but we intercepted him,” said Gobert. www.rtl.beThe chaos unfolded at around 5am on Saturday[/caption] EPAA cordon is in place while police investigate[/caption] www.rtl.beEmergency services on the scene in Strépy-Bracquegnies[/caption] Belgian politician Annelies Verlinden tweeted: “Deepest condolences to the families and friends of those killed and injured in the incident this morning in Strépy. “What was supposed to be a great party turned into a drama. We are monitoring the situation closely.” The driver of the car has been arrested, it has been reported. It wasn’t immediately known what the cause of the tragedy was. Read More on The Sun END OF THE ROAD Maddie inquiry to END after 11yrs as fears grow suspect WON'T be charged YOU'RE BANNED! Apprentice star Amy Anzel banned from final after Lord Sugar complaint Belgium has sought to root out people suspected of militant links over the past seven years. A Brussels-based Islamic State cell was involved in attacks on Paris in 2015 that killed 130 people and on Brussels in 2016 in which 32 died. So far, there is no suggestion that the tragedy was terror-related.