Ten individuals sustained injuries when a man drove into a crowd in Newcastle, Australia, on Saturday, apparently losing control of the vehicle, as per authorities. The 18-year-old driver was apprehended at the scene in Wallsend, a suburb located approximately 110 kilometers north of Sydney, the capital of New South Wales.
The incident transpired as fans gathered along local streets to bid farewell to the Newcastle Knights rugby league team, set to participate in the National Rugby League grand final in Sydney the following day. Among the injured, a five-year-old girl and a 67-year-old man were in critical condition, according to officials.
Newcastle Mayor Gavin Morris commented that the driver appeared to have lost control of the car, mentioning that he seemed to be accelerating the vehicle in some manner. Police stated that initial reports indicated the incident was not linked to terrorism.
