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The man accused of deliberately driving his car into a Christmas parade near Milwaukee, killing five people and injuring dozens, was out on bail from a domestic abuse case and was suspected in another violent altercation earlier that day.

The suspect, Darrell Brooks, 39, was arrested near the scene of Sunday's vehicular attack in Waukesha, Wisconsin, and faces five counts of first-degree homicide, Waukesha Police Chief Daniel Thompson said on Monday.

In addition to the five people killed - ranging in age from 52 to 81 - 48 were injured, including six children who remained in hospital in critical condition, authorities said.

Thompson said the motive for the attack was still a mystery but that it was clear the suspect had acted intentionally.

"He drove right through the barricades and the officers," Thompson told a briefing, adding authorities had ruled out terrorism as a motive. Waukesha County District Attorney Sue Opper said the suspect acted alone.

Police were not pursuing Brooks when he ploughed into the parade, but one officer fired shots to try to stop the sport utility vehicle, the police chief said.

"Minutes after the incident occurred, I responded to the scene," Thompson said.

"And what I saw out of chaos and tragedy was heroes - first responders in the community coming together and working together on triaging victims."

The FBI was assisting local police in their investigation.

Brooks has a criminal history and was last released from custody on November 11 after posting $1000 cash bond, an amount the Milwaukee County District Attorney's Office said was "inappropriately low in light of the nature of the recent charges" against him.

Brooks had been charged on November 5 with obstructing an officer, battery, reckless endangerment, disorderly conduct and felony bail jumping in a domestic abuse case, prosecutors and state court records show.

Around the time of Sunday's carnage, police also had received a complaint of a domestic disturbance involving Brooks and a knife but were unable to respond because they were preoccupied with the parade, Thompson said.

"Was there an initial complaint of a knife being involved? Yes," he said. "

Do we know if there actually was one there? We don't."

The chief said investigators had no information suggesting Brooks, a resident of Milwaukee, knew anyone in the parade.

Police identified the five dead as Virginia Sorenson, 79; LeAnna Owen, 71; Tamara Durand, 52; Jane Kulich, 52; and Wilhelm Hospel, 81.

On Monday morning, a pink hat, a lone shoe and lollies lay strewn across the main thoroughfare in Waukesha.

Dozens of orange evidence circles were painted on the street and most shops were closed in the city's downtown district. A woman tied a bouquet of flowers to a street post as police officers blocked intersections along the main road.

Video of the incident posted on social media showed a red SUV racing alongside the parade route and then into the procession, appearing to run over more than a dozen people before bystanders ran from footpaths to help.

Officials at Children's Wisconsin hospital in Milwaukee told a briefing they treated 18 children, including six who remained in critical condition and three in serious condition on Monday.

The rest were in fair condition or released. The hospital made no mention of any fatalities.

Waukesha schools were closed on Monday, and additional counsellors were to be made available for students, the school district superintendent said.

Authorities said a fund for the affected families had been set up.

President Joe Biden said his administration was monitoring the situation in Waukesha closely.

"The entire community is struggling, struggling to cope with these horrific acts of violence," Biden told reporters on Monday.

© RAW 2021

A suspect who drove a speeding SUV into dozens of people at a Christmas parade in Wisconsin after he fled a domestic disturbance will be charged with homicide for the five people killed.

Authorities say the incident was not terror-related.

"We have information that the suspect, prior to the incident, was involved in a domestic disturbance," Waukesha Police Chief Daniel Thompson told a briefing on Monday.

On the morning after Sunday's carnage, a pink hat, a lone shoe and candy lay strewn across the main thoroughfare in Waukesha, about 30 kilometres west of Milwaukee.

Forty-eight people, including two children, were injured.

Dozens of orange evidence circles were painted on the street and most shops were closed in the city's downtown district. A woman tied a bouquet of flowers to a street post as police officers blocked intersections along the main road.

The FBI is assisting local police in their investigation.

Thompson identified the person in custody as Darrell E Brooks, 39.

A search of online court records showed a recent open case involving a person named Darrell Brooks, with a birth date that would make him 39 years old.

According to the court documents, he is charged with restricting or obstructing an officer, bail jumping and battery. A $US1000 ($A1383) cash bond was posted earlier this month, the records show.

The Milwaukee County District Attorney's office released a statement on Monday detailing the pending charges against Brooks and said it was conducting an internal review of the decision involving Brook's bail recommendation.

A video posted online on Sunday showed a red sport utility vehicle racing alongside and into the parade, appearing to run over more than a dozen people before crowds ran from sidewalks to help.

An officer fired shots at the vehicle in an attempt to stop the carnage, Thompson said.

Another video on social media appeared to show police firing on the vehicle as it crashed through street barriers. Police did not believe shots had been fired from the vehicle, Thompson added, contrary to earlier reports.

The Children's Wisconsin hospital officials said at a briefing they treated 18 children, including six who remained in critical condition and three in serious condition on Monday.

The rest were in fair condition or released. The hospital made no mention of any fatalities.

Schools will remain closed on Monday and Waukesha authorities said a fund for the affected families had been set up.

© RAW 2021

The Brit Awards will scrap male and female categories at the awards ceremony next year, introducing gender-neutral gongs in their place.

Prizes will be handed out to the artist of the year and the international artist of the year, replacing best male and female solo artist and best international male and female solo artist.

The Brits academy has faced pressure to do away with its male and female-specific awards and says the move will celebrate artists "solely for their music and work, rather than how they choose to identify or as others may see them, as part of The Brits' commitment to evolving the show to be as inclusive and as relevant as possible".

The Brits voting academy is made up of around 1200 music industry experts across media, artists, labels, publishers, promoters, retailers and more.

Popstar Sam Smith, who won the critics' choice prize in 2014 and identifies as non-binary, using the pronouns they/them, has previously called for the move, saying they looked forward to a time when awards shows were "reflective of the society we live in".

The 2022 ceremony will also feature four new awards, which will all be decided by public vote - alternative/rock act; hip hop/grime/rap act; dance act and pop/R'n'B act.

Meanwhile, the song of the year prize will also recognise the featured artists, rather than just the lead artists or named collaborators.

The show will return on February 8 2022, with comedian Mo Gilligan on hosting duties, replacing Jack Whitehall, who has helmed the event at London's O2 Arena in recent years.

Gilligan said: "It's an absolute privilege to host the 2022 Brit Awards. I'm truly honoured to be asked.

"We're already in the extensive planning stages and all I can say is, I promise we're going to give it all we've got to create an incredible night for music fans everywhere. Let's go!"

The nominations show The Brits Are Coming will be hosted by Clara Amfo and Maya Jama, who will also host the red carpet show.

Tom March, Brit chair and co-president of Polydor Records, said: "It is important that The Brits continue to evolve and aim to be as inclusive as possible.

"It feels completely the right time to celebrate the achievements of artists for the music that they create, and the work that they do, irrespective of gender.

"I'm really excited to launch four new genre awards, which create even more opportunities for artists to be acknowledged for the brilliant music they create and produce, and give music fans the chance to get involved and vote to support their artists and help them to win a Brit.

"The 2022 show is shaping up really well, Mo is going to be an excellent host and I am thankful to him along with Clara and Maya for being part of this year's Brits."

© PAA 2021