Ten individuals sustained injuries when a man drove into a crowd in Newcastle, Australia, on Saturday after seemingly losing control of the vehicle, as per authorities. The 18-year-old driver was apprehended at the scene in the Wallsend suburb, approximately 110 kilometers north of Sydney, the capital of New South Wales.
The incident occurred 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 on Sunday. Among those hospitalized, a five-year-old girl and a 67-year-old man were listed in critical condition, authorities confirmed.
Newcastle Mayor Gavin Morris mentioned that the driver appeared to have lost control of the car, speculating that he was revving the vehicle in some manner. Police stated that initial assessments indicated that the event was not linked to terrorism.