Four dead after car crashes through after-school camp

Four people, including children, were killed and several others injured when a vehicle drove through a building used by an after-school camp in Illinois.

The victims at the YNOT After School Camp are believed to range in age from four to 18, police said.

The vehicle struck multiple people outside a building in Chatham on Monday afternoon, then continued through the building, hitting several people inside before exiting out the opposite side. It is unclear if it was deliberate.

Several victims were taken to hospital by ambulance and helicopter. Illinois State Police said the driver was unhurt and was taken to hospital for evaluation.

State police said they responded to the scene at about 15:30 local time (21:30 BST) on Monday. Three of the dead were struck by the vehicle outside the building, while one victim was hit inside the building.

Footage posted online appeared to show large holes in the building.

In a post on X, Illinois Governor JB Pritzker said his administration was monitoring the crash.

"Let's wrap our arms around the community tonight as we receive updates on the situation," he wrote.

Chatham is a village of 14,000 people about three miles (4.8km) outside of the state capital Springfield.