Updated 3 hours ago
At least five people were killed and 40 injured after a car crashed into a Christmas parade near Milwaukee.
Waukesha Police Chief Dan Thompson confirmed there had been «some deaths» and that dozens were injured during the incident in Waukesha yesterday.
Thompson added that he did not have a specific number of those who died and who were injured and taken to hospital. The incident is not currently being investigated as an act of terrorism.
We can confirm that five people died and 40 were injured. However, these numbers may change as we collect additional information, the Waukesha Police Department said in a statement on its official Facebook page, adding that a «person of interest» was in custody.
At a press briefing, Thompson told reporters, «We have an important person to look forward to at this time.»
He later added that a «person of interest» was being held but did not indicate his motive.
Fire Chief Stephen Howard said 11 adults and 12 children were injured and taken to hospitals by his department. It is not known how many others have taken to hospitals.
Children’s Hospital of Wisconsin said it had received 15 patients from the show and no deaths had been reported as of 8pm (2am Irish time).
Thompson said an investigation was underway — with help from the Wisconsin Department of Justice — and that a «suspicious vehicle» had been found. People have been urged to avoid the downtown area.
«Among the injured is one of our Catholic priests, as well as several parishioners and children of Waukesha Catholic School,» Sandra Peterson, a spokeswoman for the Milwaukee Catholic Church, said in a statement.
«All I heard was screaming and then people screaming their children’s names,» one witness, Angela Obwell, whose apartment overlooks the show in suburban Milwaukee, told CNN.
Waukesha Police Chief Dan Thompson earlier told reporters that officers had recovered the vehicle involved in the attack.
US President Joe Biden was briefed on the situation and the White House said it was «closely monitoring the situation in Waukesha and our thoughts are with everyone affected by this horrific incident.»
One of the officials added, «We have reached out to government and local officials to provide any support and assistance as needed.»
While local law enforcement were the primary responding entities, the FBI also said it was providing assistance.
There is no danger
The Milwaukee Dancing Grannies, who had people taking part in the show, posted on their Facebook page that «group members and volunteers have been affected and we are awaiting word on their circumstances.»
The group’s profile describes them as «a group of grandmothers who meet once a week to practice routines on summer and winter walks.»
Waukesha Mayor Sean Riley told Milwaukee TV station WITI that he doesn’t believe there is any current risk to the public.
Footage posted on social media, which appeared to be a live video broadcast, showed a red car breaking through the barriers and speeding down the road where the show was taking place.
Another video taken along the parade route showed a group of apparently teenage girls dancing in white costumes wearing Santa Claus hats.
The car then smashed into the group while the person filming was shouting “Oh my God” over and over again. The video shows people tending to at least one girl on the floor.
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Another video shows the car hitting what appear to be members of a band and several other people along the parade route before driving. The sound of the band that is heard before the car approaches is replaced by shouting.
Waukesha School Board member Corey Montehu told the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel that his daughter’s dance team was injured.
“It was pom-poms and shoes and we spilled hot chocolate everywhere. I had to go from one crumbled body to the next to find my daughter.” My wife and daughters were almost injured. Please pray for everyone. Please pray.»
In a Facebook statement, officers added that a family reunion site had been set up at the Metro Transit Center on Bank Street.
Angelito Tenorio, a West Ellis councilman running for treasurer of Wisconsin, told the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel that he was watching the show with his family when they saw the car come speeding through the area.
He told the newspaper: «We heard a loud bang, deafening crying and screaming from people who had been hit by the car.
Then we saw people running away or stopping crying, and there, there are people on the ground who looked like they had been hit by a car.
“It happened so quickly. It was so terrifying.”
– Contains reports from © AFP 2021
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