WAUKESHA / OSLO (VG) Darrell E. Brooks (39) is charged with the murder of five people after he drove into a Christmas parade in Wisconsin.
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During a press conference on Monday, police confirm that 39-year-old Darrell E. Brooks has been arrested and charged with murder after the incident.
– We are sure that he acted alone. There is nothing to suggest that this is an act of terrorism, says police chief Dan Thompson about the incident on Sunday, where five people lost their life and 48 people were injured.
The reason for the savagery in the city of Waukesha is so far unknown, but several American media – including CNN, AP and Washington Post – on Monday night quoted anonymous politicians that the man who was behind the wheel must have been on the run from another crime scene when he drove into the crowd.
According to Washington Post the 39-year-old driver had fled from a fight with a knife involved.
On Monday, the police state that Brooks was involved in an incident shortly before he drove into the parade, but they deny that he was hunted down by the police.
VG is Monday night Norwegian time in place in the small town, where it is quiet and calm. The police have blocked off the streets, where they are still working to clean up after Sunday’s drama.
1 of 3Photo: Thomas Nilsson, VG
– Took hold of their children
In videos showing the dramatic event, you can see a red SUV driving at high speed down the street where the parade is taking place. When the car has driven through the street, both injured and dead people are left on the asphalt.
CNN has spoken with Angelito Tenorio, who was present during the parade on Sunday. He tells of chaotic scenes that took place on Sunday night.
– People started fleeing, they ran away from the place without taking their belongings, people grabbed their children, shouted and shouted at their loved ones, he says to CNN.
Several children are among the injured: On Monday, the pediatric hospital “Children’s Wisconsin” in Milwaukee informs to CNN that they received 18 injured patients after the parade.
On Monday night, ten children aged three to 16 were admitted to the intensive care unit at the hospital, and the condition is critical for six of the children. It writes CNN.
“Dancing Grandmothers” killed
So far, US authorities have not released information about the victims of the parade tragedy.
The group “The Milwaukee Dancing Grannies” – “Milwaukee’s dancing grandmothers” writes on their Facebook page that they were hit hard by the incident on Sunday night: several of the women who performed with the group during the parade are among the dead.
– Those who died were extremely passionate grandmothers. Their eyes shone. The joy of being a “Grannie”. They were the glue that held us together, the group writes Facebook.
– Our hearts are heavy in this difficult time, writes «the dancing grandmothers».
Flags on half pole
Earlier Monday, Wisconsin’s governor Tony Evers announced that he had requested that the American flag and Wisconsin’s state flag be hoisted at half – mast after Sunday’s tragedy.
Evers has shared the announcement on its official Twitter-konto, in which the governor also writes that “the people of Wisconsin pray for Waukesha and all those affected, and mourn that lives have been lost as a result of this meaningless tragedy.”
Schools in Waukesha are also closed on Monday.
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