Two men critical after car crashed into crew filming for RTÉ

Two men are in a critical condition in a Belfast hospital after a car crashed into a production crew filming a programme for RTÉ.

Six people were taken to the Royal Victoria Hospital on Monday at about 8.30pm after the Northern Ireland Ambulance Service received a report that a the vehicle had "ploughed into a crowd" at the junction of Apollo Road and Falcon Road.

Seven ambulances were required at the scene close to the Boucher Road.

It was immediately declared a “major incident” by the emergency services.

The independent crew, of about 20 people, had been filming a new three part series for RTÉ2 called ‘Young, Dumb and Dangerous’, which explores the use of excessive violence by young people, when the incident occurred.

A 24-year-old man was arrested at the scene and subsequently released on bail pending further inquiries.

A man involved in the shoot told the BBC he heard a car accelerating and then saw it approaching with no indication it was stopping.

He, and several others reportedly moved out of the way but the car then struck six people and “continued to drive through the fence” they had been near.

“There was a lot of screaming and blood,” the man said.

He added: “It was terrifyingly surreal, I still don’t believe it happened.”

A police investigation into the circumstances of the collision is ongoing.

On Tuesday a spokeswoman for the Belfast Trust told The Irish Times two of the six casualties admitted on Monday evening had since been discharged.

Two others are in a stable condition at the Royal and a further two are described as “critical”.

It is understood the two people in a critical condition are both men.

A statement from RTÉ said its thoughts were with the injured and their families.

“RTÉ is aware of the incident involving members of an independent production company, who were filming for RTÉ in Belfast city last night.

“The PSNI are currently investigating the incident.

“RTÉ cannot comment further at this time.

“Our thoughts are with those involved and their families.”