Ten individuals sustained injuries when a man drove into a crowd in Newcastle, Australia, on Saturday after apparently losing control of his vehicle, as confirmed by 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 occurred as fans gathered along local streets to bid farewell to the Newcastle Knights rugby league team, who were set to participate in the National Rugby League grand final in Sydney on Sunday. Among the injured, a five-year-old girl and a 67-year-old man were reported to be in critical condition, according to officials.
Newcastle Mayor Gavin Morris remarked in a televised statement that the driver appeared to have lost control of the car, possibly due to revving the engine. Police indicated that there were no initial signs linking the incident to terrorism.