Car hits Newcastle Knights crowd, ten injured including two children

Ten people were injured when a car drove into a crowd of Newcastle Knights fans in Wallsend, a suburb about 110 km north of Sydney, on Saturday. Police said the driver, an 18‑year‑old man, lost control of the vehicle and struck supporters standing on the road as the team prepared to travel to the NRL grand final in Sydney on 4 October. Police arrested the driver at the scene and added the incident does not appear to be terrorism‑related. Two victims – a five‑year‑old girl and a 67‑year‑old man – were taken to hospital in critical condition; the other eight, including another five‑year‑old girl and a two‑year‑old girl, were listed as stable. Newcastle Mayor Gavin Morris said on television, “It appears that he was revving the car in some form.” New South Wales Ambulance officials confirmed the critical cases and that all injured are receiving care. Fans had gathered along local streets to farewell the Knights before the grand final, a scene described by Australian officials as a large crowd cheering the team bus off. New South Wales police noted that thousands had been cheering the team that week and that the investigation remains ongoing. ## Context Vehicle‑ramming attacks on public gatherings have risen globally, leading authorities to review crowd‑control measures, though most incidents are treated as isolated accidents rather than coordinated threats.