Helicopter crashes at cycling event

A helicopter plunged into sand dunes near Rotterdam, killing three of its passengers, in front of a group of cyclists participating in a biking event.

The helicopter was carrying three photographers covering the event, held in the run-up to the start of the Tour de France next Saturday. An employee of Rotterdam port was also on board.

"Three people died and two are seriously injured. The cause of the crash is unknown," a police spokesman said, adding that witnesses said they saw the helicopter simply fall to the ground.