Excited rugby fan crashes car into crowd, nine injured in Australia

SYDNEY: A car crashed into a crowd of rugby league supporters in the eastern Australian city of Newcastle on Saturday, injuring nine people including a child, local officials said.

The crowd had gathered to farewell local rugby league side the Newcastle Knights ahead of their grand final match against the Sydney Roosters on Sunday.

Newcastle Mayor Gavin Morris said the driver was a rugby fan who had lost control of his vehicle. He was taken into police custody.

"He was revving the car, he was excited, he was a supporter, he was there for the joy of the moment," Morris told national broadcaster ABC.

"Somehow he lost control of the car... and he's gone into the crowd."

Among the injured was a child, he added.

An ambulance spokesperson told AFP that one of the injured was in a critical condition, with another stable but critical and seven others stable.

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said "my thoughts are with everyone injured or involved in the horrible incident this morning in Newcastle."

"Rugby league brings people together, and this should have been a weekend of excitement and pride for Newcastle fans," he wrote in a post on X.--AFP