Ten people were injured on Saturday after a vehicle drove into a crowd supporting the Newcastle Knights in Wallsend, New South Wales, turning what had been a show of community support into a major public safety incident.
New South Wales Police said two of the injured — a five-year-old girl and a 67-year-old man — were in critical condition, while eight others were stable in hospital. The injured included several children.
Police response and early details
Police arrested an 18-year-old man after the incident. Assistant Commissioner David Waddell said the male was taken for mandatory drug and alcohol testing and would likely be charged later that day. Waddell also said the crash was not believed to be related to terrorism.
Waddell said there were two other persons in the car, and officers had to get the three of them out of the area because the crowd turned on them.
The crowd had gathered to farewell the team and show support as the Newcastle Knights trained ahead of their Grand Final against Sydney Roosters at Accor Stadium. Thousands of Novocastrians had been cheering the team on that week.
Parr says the club is with the community
Newcastle Knights CEO Peter Parr said the club’s focus was on those hurt and everyone who witnessed what happened. He said what was meant to be a special morning for the community had turned into a distressing one, and he thanked fans for the support they had shown the team.
Parr also praised the response of NSW Police, NSW Ambulance and other emergency services, and thanked the doctors, nurses and staff at John Hunter Hospital caring for the injured. He added that Newcastle is a strong community and said the city would need to draw on that strength again with compassion and care.
For the Newcastle Knights, the incident cast a serious shadow over a day that was meant to build excitement before the Grand Final. For the wider Newcastle community, the priority now is the care of those injured and the support of the families affected.
