Death toll mounts in Xmas car horror
Several people were killed and many others badly injured when a car was used to mow down participants at a Christmas family parade in Wisconsin. Children are known to be among the seriously wounded.
Officials were still gathering information on the horrific incident which occurred as spectators in the town of Waukesha, a Milwaukee suburb, watched the parade.
“A red SUV drove into our Christmas parade,” local police chief Dan Thompson told reporters. “More than 20 individuals were injured.”
Police later confirmed that some of the injured had died, but no details of the deceased were immediately released.
Police said it was not yet apparent if incident was terror-related.
The Waukesha Police Department has impounded the vehicle, and the driver was said to be in custody.
Angelito Tenorio, who is running for Wisconsin state treasurer, was at the parade and told the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel that he “saw an SUV put the pedal to the metal and went zooming at full speed along the parade route”.
“We heard a loud bang, and just deafening cries and screams from people who were struck by the vehicle.”
The driver appeared to target a group of young female dancers, and witnesses said the were small children strewn on the ground – along with scattered pompoms.
Footage showed the SUV speeding into the parade behind a school marching band.
The driver appears to run over at least one individual as the crowd begins screaming in terror. Hysteria then ensues as people begin fleeing in all directions before the driver speeds off, chased by police.
Photos appear to show police investigating the suspected dark-red SUV that was used in the incident, parked in a driveway with its front panels heavily dented.
The city was live-streaming the parade on Facebook.
Wisconsin Governor Tony Evers said he and his wife were “praying for Waukesha tonight and all the kids, families and community members affected by this senseless act”.