Eight people were killed and a dozen others injured Sunday, May 7 in Texas when a car ran a red and dark light in a group of people waiting for the bus in front of a center welcoming migrants.
Law enforcement in the city of Brownsville said they could not immediately confirm whether it was an accident or a deliberate act, but a witness told AFP that the driver had ” insult “ those present before accelerating.
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The vehicle “ran a red light and ran over several people” around 8:30 a.m. (3:30 p.m. in mainland France) in Brownsville, a town bordering Mexico, in the southernmost part of Texas, local police spokesman Martin Sandoval told AFP.
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“Seven people were killed and dozens injured”he specified. “We don’t know if all the people who died were migrants. We are investigating this with the border police”, he added. American media later reported that one of the injured, taken to a local hospital, had died.
The driver was arrested and is being treated for injuries, according to Martin Sandoval.
“The assassin pointed the finger at us”
One of the migrants who was there told AFP that it all happened in space “for a few moments”.
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“It all happened suddenly. A lady drove by and told us to get out of the way, and we got out of the way. It was a matter of a few moments. The assassin arrived in the car pointing at us, insulting us”, said Luis Herrera, a 36-year-old Venezuelan with an arm injury. According to him, the driver accelerated while approaching.
It was people present on the spot who then prevented him from fleeing while waiting for the arrival of the police.
He was arrested for “dangerous driving”more “it is more than likely that there will be other charges later”said Martin Sandoval, without giving more details.
Sunday evening, the police had not yet revealed the identity of the driver. She announced a press conference for this Monday morning.
At high speed in the crowd
The victims were part of a crowd of about 25 people who were waiting at a bus stop outside a center for homeless people, which is currently accepting migrants due to the current influx, the director of the center explained. , Victor Maldonado.
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According to him, they were Venezuelans, who had just had their breakfast at the center.
“Suddenly this SUV came at very high speed, hit the pavement and split the group”he said.
He described to AFP a scene of horror, with body parts scattered in the street, and witnesses “Completely in shock”. The driver “tried to run away but the residents (of the center) caught him and immobilized him”he added.
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The center is open 24 hours a day, and currently hosts migrants from Chile, Colombia, Ecuador, China and Ukraine, as well as many Venezuelans, Maldonado said.
The news comes at a time when the authorities are preparing for the lifting, Thursday, May 11, of a health measure taken because of the Covid and allowing the immediate expulsion of migrants, the “Title 42”. Its expiration makes the authorities fear a spike in illegal entries into the United States.
