10 injured after car crashes into rugby supporters in Australia

What the report says

A car struck a crowd of rugby league supporters in Newcastle, in the Australian state of New South Wales, injuring 10 people, including three children, according to Al Jazeera’s reporting on Saturday. Police said the group had gathered to farewell the Newcastle Knights before their grand final match against the Sydney Roosters.

New South Wales police said the driver, described in the source material as an 18-year-old rugby league fan, was arrested and that investigators were still examining what happened. The article says authorities did not believe the crash was linked to terrorism. Local officials and police indicated the driver had lost control of the vehicle while in the area.

Among the injured, a five-year-old girl and a 67-year-old man were reported to be in critical condition, while the other eight were said to be stable in hospital. The incident has drawn concern because it involved a sporting gathering that was meant to be a pre-final celebration rather than a public disturbance.

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese expressed sympathy for those hurt, while Newcastle’s lord mayor said the moment had turned tragic. As background, road crashes into crowds are uncommon but can rapidly become mass-casualty incidents, especially in dense public settings. The case remains under police investigation.