Car attack on Dutch royal parade

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Page last updated at 20:10 GMT, Thursday, 30 April 2009 21:10 UK

Car attack on Dutch royal parade

A car driver has crashed into crowds watching a Dutch royal parade, killing five

people, in an attempted attack on the royal family, officials say.

The car careered into a monument metres from an open-topped bus carrying Queen

Beatrix and members of her family.

The royals, who were unharmed, watched in horror as the car ploughed into

bystanders in Apeldoorn, about 90km (56 miles) east of Amsterdam.

Officials said the 38-year-old driver had suffered life-threatening injuries.

Prosecutor Ludo Goossens said the man, who is a Dutch national, would be charged

with attempting an attack on the royal family and murder - if he survives.

" The man indicated that his action was aimed against the royal family, " Mr

Goossens told journalists in Apeldoorn.

After searching the car and his home, investigators ruled out terrorism as a

motive and said it appeared he had acted alone.

'Bewilderment and disbelief'

Members of the royal family were shown looking on in horror as the battered car

rammed spectators before crashing into the stone monument.

In a televised address, Queen Beatrix called the incident shocking, and said

everyone would empathise with the victims and their families and friends.

" What began as a great day has ended in a terrible tragedy that has shocked us

all deeply, " she said.

" People who were standing close by, people who saw it happen on television, all

those who lived through it, must have looked on with bewilderment and disbelief.

" We're speechless that something so terrible could have happened. "

Boll, a photographer at the scene, told the BBC the car was already

badly damaged before it slammed into the crowds at high speed.

" There were people everywhere, you could definitely see that it was serious

because everywhere was blood and shoes ripped off and all the people giving

CPR, " she said.

Other witnesses described people being flung into the air as the car crashed

through the throngs who had turned out to see the queen.

Officials said two men and two women died at the scene of the incident, while

another person died later in hospital.

Taken by surprise

The crowds were celebrating Queen's Day - a national holiday in the Netherlands

when thousands of people take to the streets to mark the queen's official

birthday.

Hundreds of police officers were on duty in a huge security operation that took

months to plan.

But the authorities said they were taken completely by surprise when the small

black car smashed through a security fence and into the crowd of people.

Following the incident, flags were lowered to half mast on government buildings

across the country and all planned celebrations were called off.

Witnesses said the streets of Apeldoorn were now deserted.