Four people are reported to have been killed and several hurt in The Netherlands after a car careered into spectators watching a royal motorcade.

People were flung through the air after the car swerved across police railings



A photographer said the car appeared to be deliberately driving at high speed toward an open bus carrying Queen Beatrix and her family in the western Dutch city of Apeldoorn.

Cynthia Boll said she saw about 20 people "flying through the air" after the black car swerved across police railings, where crowds of people were waiting to see the queen pass.

The car slammed into a monument. Video footage showed police removing a man from the vehicle and putting him into an ambulance.

The royal bus was not hit and no one in the queen's entourage was injured.

The motorcade was part of celebrations for the annual national holiday of Queen's Day.

Seriously disturbing news...

http://www.radionetherlands.nl/news/zij ... to-tragedy


Smuler

Sad story indeed, here is vid clip of car hitting monument:

http://www.cnn.com/2009/WORLD/europe/04 ... index.html

Almost looks like an assassination attempt with all the security officers running all over the place

Tere is a link, on dutch news nl to a photo of the driver. It seems many festivities have been cancelled. Once again, the pleasure of many spoilt by the actions of another.

Four killed in 'deliberate attack' near royal bus (Update)
Thursday 30 April 2009

Four people were killed and 13 injured, five seriously, when a black car drove through barricades and narrowly missed a bus carrying the royal family during the Queen's Day celebrations in Apeldoorn.

The car veered away from the open bus carrying queen Beatrix, crown prince Willem-Alexander and other members of the royal family and ploughed into a obelix, known locally as the needle.

Police said the driver, who was seriously injured, is a 38-year-old white Dutch national. The attack appeared to be deliberate, police said at a news conference on Thursday afternoon. However, there is no indication that the driver acted together with any people or that there is any terrorist motive for the attack.

Police said the man was not known to the police nor was he believed to have contact with the mental health services. But 'the initial contact' with the man before he was cut out of the car indicated this was a 'deliberate act', police said.

Festivities cancelled

The festivities in Apeldoorn, which should have included a traditional file past, were immediately cancelled.

Elsewhere in the country, official events and concerts to celebrate Queen's Day were scrapped.

In a televised statement, queen Beatrix said her family was 'deeply shocked' that a day which begun in such an atmosphere of celebration should end so terribly. 'My family share their deepest sympathy with the victims and their relatives,' the queen said.

For photographs of the aftermath and video of the incident, click here

For a photo of the alleged attacker, click here


© DutchNews.nl

Our thoughts and prayers are with the good Dutch people. I had just finished showing a workmate the Koningsplein Cam view of all the festivities of Queen's Day when I read of this terrible news.

One idiot sure screwed up Queen's Day for everyone else. I'm hearing rumours now that Queen's Day will not even take place in Apeldoorn next year either.