Four people have reportedly been killed and about two dozen others injured after a car slammed into a carnival crowd in Belgium.

Media reports said the four died after the car hit people who had gathered at dawn on Sunday for celebrations in Strepy-Bracquegnies, which is 30 miles south of Brussels.

The mayor of the town, Jacques Gobert told RTBF radio: “A car drove from the back at high speed. We have a few dozen injured and unfortunately several people who are killed.”

Initial reports said the crash may have been caused by a car being chased by police.

French language media outlet RTBF reported that the driver had been intercepted after attempting to continue along the road following the collision.

It added that as well as the four killed, more than 20 had been seriously injured and nearly 70 people affected.

It said a group consisting of about a hundred people had just left the town’s Omnisports hall to go, via the Rue des Canadiens, towards the centre when the collision happened.

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A news briefing is expected at 11am local time (10am UK).

It was the first time the Strepy carnival had taken place in two years after it was cancelled in 2020 and 2021 because of the pandemic.

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