Ten people, including three children, were injured after a car drove into a crowd of rugby league supporters in Newcastle, in New South Wales, Australia.
The incident happened as fans gathered to celebrate and farewell the Newcastle Knights before the team's grand final against the Sydney Roosters. The highly anticipated match was scheduled for Sunday, making the gathering an important event for local supporters.
According to New South Wales police, an 18-year-old man was driving the vehicle when it entered the crowd. Officers arrested the driver following the crash and began investigating the circumstances surrounding the incident.
Police said the incident was not believed to be connected to terrorism.
Two of the injured people were reported to be in critical condition. They included a five-year-old girl and a 67-year-old man. The remaining eight people were taken to hospital and were reported to be in stable condition.
Authorities continued to investigate how the vehicle came to hit the supporters and what led to the driver losing control.
Newcastle Lord Mayor Gavin Morris said the driver was a rugby league supporter who had been attending the gathering to share in the excitement surrounding the team's grand final appearance.
Speaking to Australia's ABC, Morris said the driver had reportedly been revving the vehicle and appeared to be caught up in the celebrations. He said the car then lost control and struck people in the crowd.
The incident turned what had been intended as a joyful gathering into a frightening scene for fans, families and people in the surrounding area.
The Newcastle Knights had been preparing to face the Sydney Roosters in the grand final, with supporters gathering ahead of the match to show their backing for the local team. Rugby league has a strong following in Newcastle, making the team's appearance in the final a significant occasion for the city.
The crash also prompted a response from Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese, who expressed sympathy for those affected.
Albanese said his thoughts were with everyone who had been injured or involved in what he described as a terrible incident in Newcastle. He also noted that rugby league normally brings communities together and said the weekend was supposed to be a time of excitement and pride for Newcastle supporters.
Emergency services responded to the scene and transported the injured to hospitals for treatment. Police detained the young driver while officers worked to establish exactly what happened.
At this stage, authorities have not indicated that the crash was deliberate or terrorism-related. The investigation is expected to examine the driver's actions before the collision, the circumstances surrounding the vehicle and how it came into contact with the crowd.
The condition of the two critically injured victims remains a major concern, particularly the young girl and the elderly man. The other injured people were described as stable in hospital.
The incident has cast a shadow over what was expected to be a celebratory weekend for Newcastle. Thousands of rugby league supporters were looking forward to the Knights' grand final appearance, but the crash has left several families dealing with serious injuries instead.
As police continue their investigation, authorities are expected to determine whether any charges will be brought against the driver. Further details about the circumstances of the collision may emerge as investigators speak with witnesses and examine evidence from the scene.
For the Newcastle community, the focus has now shifted from the excitement surrounding the grand final to the wellbeing of those injured in the crash and their families.
The incident serves as a reminder of the potential dangers that can arise when large crowds gather around vehicles during public celebrations. For now, local authorities and emergency services remain focused on supporting the injured while police work to establish a full account of the events that led to the collision.
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