A crash between a bus and a train travelling at high speed in northern Belgium has killed four people, including two children, and injured five other children, officials say.

The injured children were hospitalised in a serious condition, said Lisa De Wilde, spokeswoman for the East Flanders public prosecutor's office.

The collision happened at a level crossing during the morning rush hour on Tuesday (Tuesday afternoon AEST) near the town of Buggenhout, more than 30 kilometres north-west of the capital, Brussels.

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The minibus driver and an escort were killed along with two children, 12 and 15, De Wilde said at a news conference.

She said that the cause of the crash hadn't been established. Investigators were questioning witnesses and checking security camera footage.

"What we do know is that the barrier was closed and the red light was on," she said.

An Associated Press reporter at the scene said the badly damaged bus lay toppled on its side, its front section crushed flat.

Forensic experts in protective white suits and wearing gloves were taking photos of the scene. A forensics tent was erected nearby. The train was relatively unscathed.

The train was estimated to be travelling at about 120km/h as it approached the crossing and had "no time to brake", said Frédéric Sacré, a spokesman for Belgian rail operator Infrabel.

"The impact was extremely violent," Sacré told RTBF public broadcaster.

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Federal Police spokesperson An Berger said that the bus driver appeared to have ploughed through the train barrier.

Infrabel said that the crossing was working correctly. A security camera there showed that the bus, which had nine people aboard, was still moving when the train hit it.

It's believed that 100 passengers were aboard the train and that none of them were hurt. Rail traffic in the area was halted and bus services provided for travellers. Local officials stood for a minute's silence after the news conference.

Children played basketball and rode bicycles at a school not far from the scene in this bucolic town.

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In a social media post, Interior Minister Bernard Quintin expressed "great sadness" over "the tragic accident in Buggenhout, where a school bus was struck by a train".

"My thoughts go out to the victims and their loved ones," he said.

He told a jury his ex-partner’s allegations were ‘lies’, ‘bulls***’ and ‘utter crap’.

NT Police will not press charges almost a year on from the death in custody of Kumanjayi White.

The 24-year-old man with a disability died after being restrained by two police officers in a supermarket at Alice Springs on May 27, 2025.

Today, police confirmed they received advice from the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) over the investigation.

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"Senior police have spoken directly with the family and officers involved earlier today," NT Police said in a statement.

"We recognise this will be an emotional day for many people across the Northern Territory and ask the community to respond peacefully and respectfully."

The DPP said the legal threshold for prosecution has not been met.

"After considering all available material, including the independent expert report and external legal advice, the DPP formed the view that there are no reasonable prospects of a successful prosecution," the DPP said in a statement.

"Decisions of this kind are made independently of government, based only on the evidence and the law."

NT Police Commissioner Martin Dole told reporters both officers involved were still employed but no decisions had been made about their reinstatement. 

"The dynamics of exactly what occurred in the incident is what's going to be explored in the coronial process by the coroner. We'll obviously listen to any recommendations that come in," he said.

Senator Lidia Thorpe became emotional and wiped back tears as she expressed her hopelessness and anger at the news.

"Our people around the country feel this hopelessness when there's no one ever held accountable," she said.

"I'm angry, I'm devastated, and I'm sick of being angry and devastated when I get these stories, and no accountability, no justice for my people ever, and where there is no justice, there is no peace."

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Describing her conversations with the federal government over deaths in custody, Thorpe said they don't care.

"The federal government are complicit in deaths in custody because they don't act," she said.

"They're complicit in child removals because they don't act, they have constitutional power to act, and they choose not to."

Dole urged the community to be "mindful" of the impact public commentary would have on the coronial process, Kumanjayi White's family and police officers as he called for calm.

"Our focus remains on community safety, transparency within lawful limits and ensuring the integrity of all ongoing processes," he said.

The investigation was handled by the NT Police while an interstate police force conducted an independent use-of-force review.

The DPP reviewed the evidence and made their ruling today. A coronial inquest is under way.

Thorpe said there would never be a satisfactory outcome when police investigated police.

"I think it's an error that we have police investigating police. There are international examples of independent reviews and investigations of deaths in custody," she said.

"They have experts, they have Aboriginal people, indigenous people at the table so that it's complete independence from the police."

The person under investigation was a junior member of boarding staff.

A woman has been charged nearly a month after an alleged assault that left a Melbourne waitress needing emergency dental surgery.

French backpacker Anais Poupon, 19, was working at La Vallee Cafe on Keilor Road in Essendon on April 25 when a passerby allegedly knocked a plate she was carrying, causing it to smash into her teeth.

The alleged unprovoked attack was caught on CCTV and Poupon's colleagues posted the footage to social media in a bid to track down the alleged offender.

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A 52-year-old Footscray woman was arrested at Dandenong Railway Station about 10.50am on May 23.

She was charged with recklessly causing injury and faced Melbourne Magistrates' court the next day.

The charged woman was granted bail and will next appear at Broadmeadows Magistrates' Court on 17 August, 2026.

Poupon required surgery to fix her chipped tooth following the incident.

Mall and security staff gave first aid before emergency services arrived.

WorkSafe called the case a “watershed moment” for machine safety in New Zealand.

Safety charity Take 10 is facing a $100k funding shortfall and its truck is crumbling.

Youth pastor Helen Verry was killed when the incorrectly installed 230kg door fell on her.

The scheme will involve the Government guaranteeing 80% of each business loan.