A bus driver rammed his vehicle into a day care center near Montreal on Wednesday, killing two four-year-old children in what police believe was an intentional act.
One child died at the scene and another in an ambulance, Canadian authorities said, after several children were trapped under the vehicle when it crashed into a building in the suburb of Laval at around 8:30 am (1330 GMT).
“We think it was deliberate, but we don’t know the motive,” local police chief Pierre Brochet told AFP.
The 51-year-old suspect, named Pierre Ny St-Amand, appeared agitated as he appeared via video link in court later Wednesday. He faces nine charges including premeditated murder and attempted murder.
The other six children who were transported to the hospital were out of danger, Laval police spokeswoman Erika Landry said.
Hamdi Ben Chaabane, who lives nearby, said he arrived at the scene to find the driver acting recklessly.
“He opened the door. He took off all his clothes. He was completely naked,” Chaabane said, according to the CBC broadcaster.
“We don’t know why he did it. We dove in him. We tried to beat him,” he said, describing the man as “in another world.”
St-Amand refused to speak but nodded to answer the judge’s questions as he appeared in court, smiling broadly and repeatedly trying to sit up from the handcuffed bed, an AFP reporter in the room observed.
The case will continue on February 17, crown prosecutor Karine Dalphond said, with St-Amand still in a psychiatric hospital.
The bus it was traveling in was seen crashing into the side of a building near a parking lot far from the nearest road, still on Wednesday afternoon with part of the roof collapsed on the front side.
Another parent on the scene, holding his own child, told Radio Canada that the oldest child was hit.
“I know there are no words for the parents who lost their children this way,” Prime Minister Justin Trudeau told reporters.
“All Canadians are grieving with them, and we will do whatever we can to support them in their terrible pain in the days, months and years of grief,” he said.
No adults were injured in the collision.
– ‘A terrible tragedy’ –
Several victims were taken to Sainte-Justine hospital.
“There is nothing more cruel than attacking our children,” Quebec Premier Francois Legault said, praising emergency workers who responded to the scene.
“I keep thinking about the families and loved ones of the children who died, as well as those who were injured,” he said.
Legault said he and opposition party leaders plan to return to Laval Thursday “to offer support to the families and personnel affected by this terrible tragedy.”
Day laborer Mona Gilot, 54, told AFP she was angry.
“My head is spinning. It’s hard for me to say,” he said.
After the accident, parents rushed up the snow-covered sidewalks to collect their children from the center, which usually houses 80 or 85 children, while a nearby school was turned into a crisis headquarters.
“I am shocked by this news. The investigation continues into this series of tragic events,” tweeted Stephane Boyer, mayor of Laval.
“All support to parents at this difficult time,” he said.
“Laval is with you wholeheartedly and will be there for you.”
The Quebec flag will be lowered and the Montreal Tower at the city’s Olympic stadium will be dimmed Wednesday evening as will the CN tower in Toronto, in honor of the victims.
In 2018, a Canadian drove a rental car into a crowd of pedestrians in downtown Toronto, killing 11 and injuring 16 in the largest attack in the country’s history.