Baby killed, 15 injured as car plows into crowd in Rio de Janeiro

An eight-month-old baby was killed and at least 15 people were injured when a car plowed into a crowd in Brazil's Rio de Janeiro on Thursday night local time, according to officials.

The incident is not thought to be terror-related, they said.

The driver, identified as 41-year-old Antonio de Almeida Anquim by local authorities, attempted to escape, but was ultimately detained, according to officials at the scene.

A vehicle that plowed through a crowd near Copacabana Beach is seen in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil on January 18, 2018.

The perpetrator was allegedly suffering an epileptic attack when he plowed his black Hyundai i30 into the crowd near Copacabana Beach, according to local police commander Colonel Angelotti, as a box of medicine was found inside the car.

The man has been taken to undergo a medical examination, Angelotti added.

Paramedics help the injured after the incident.

The incident happened at around 8 p.m. local time, when the world-famous beach was crowded with tourists and locals as they were seeking relief from a heat wave.

Local media reported that the driver was allegedly involved in another accident two years ago, when he was riding a motorcycle and crashed into the back of a van.

(CGTN)