Shanghai, Jumada I 16, 1439, Feb 2, 2018, SPA -- A minivan carrying gas canisters plowed into pedestrians near a prominent park in downtown Shanghai on Friday, injuring 18 people, local authorities reported. Shanghai police said the crash was caused by a 40-year old man who was smoking inside the van, accidentally igniting the gas he was transporting. Police appeared to dismiss fears the crash could have been an attack in the heart of the Chinese financial hub, AP reported. The driver and two other people suffered serious injuries. --SPA 14:33 LOCAL TIME 11:33 GMT www.spa.gov.sa/w601783