Van hits Brussels sidewalk terrace

Police have detained a suspect after a speeding van crashed on a sidewalk terrace in central Brussels, injuring at least three people slightly.

The driver of the van left after hitting several tables, said Willemien Baert, a spokesman for the Brussels prosecutor’s office.

“We are still evaluating several possible motives,” she said.

“These facts remind us of attacks we’ve seen abroad. But that’s not the only motive we’re looking at,” Ms Baert said, adding it was likely an accident.

“Many suffered minor injuries and were treated at the scene without going to hospital,” she told reporters.

Surveillance camera images showed the white van driving through a narrow alley on the Rue Neuve shopping street, hitting instead of several tables as people dispersed to safety.

Over the past few years, European authorities have determined that people who drive into crowded public spaces and cause multiple casualties sometimes hold extremist beliefs or have mental health problems.

“We are in close contact with our security services and are following this closely,” Belgian Interior Minister Annelies Verlinden said.