NEWCASTLE, Australia — A car drove into a crowd of Newcastle Knights rugby league supporters in the Wallsend suburb on Saturday, injuring at least 10 people including several children, Deutsche Welle reported, citing AFP, AP and Reuters.
Fans had lined streets to farewell the Knights as the team left for Sunday’s National Rugby League grand final against the Sydney Roosters in Sydney. New South Wales officials said two people were in critical condition, including a 5-year-old girl and a 67-year-old man. Police identified the driver as an 18-year-old P-plater who was arrested and taken to hospital for mandatory drug and alcohol testing. Authorities said initial inquiries indicated the incident was not terrorism-related.
Newcastle Mayor Gavin Morris told ABC that the driver was a supporter who had been “revving the car” in excitement and “somehow … lost control” before striking the crowd. Prime Minister Anthony Albanese called the episode “horrible,” saying the weekend should have been one of “excitement and pride for Newcastle fans.”
ABC News later reported the alleged driver, Indika Bambrick Samarasinghe, 18, was charged with multiple counts including dangerous driving occasioning grievous bodily harm and refused bail, according to court documents.
Sources: Deutsche Welle (with AFP, AP and Reuters)
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