19 people injured as a car mowed them down on Flinders St, in Melbourne’s CBD
19 people were injured and several hospitalised including a small child when a driver with a history of drug use and mental issues mowed them down on Flinders St, in Melbourne’s CBD. Police have suggested that terrorism was not at play.
READ ON BELOW FOR EVENTS AS THEY UNFOLDED THROUGHOUT THE EVENING
| SamanthaHutchinson 10.42pm Deliberate ‘act of evil’ rocks Melbourne
Nineteen people have been taken to hospital following a deliberate attack on a Melbourne intersection in which a rogue driver ran a red light and mowed down pedestrians.
Victoria Police revealed that fifteen of the victims are in a stable condition, and another four are in a critical condition.
Among those hospitalised are the 32-year-old driver of the car used in the attack and the off-duty police officer who arrested him.
The man who mowed down and injured 19 pedestrians in what police described as a ‘deliberate act’, in Melbourne’s CBD, at the intersection of Flinders and Elizabeth streets is believed to be a drug addict with a history of mental health problems.
The Australian understands the attack, which occurred at 4.41pm in the heart of downtown Melbourne, is not being treated as terrorism.
Rather, the driver is thought to be a mentally ill man with a history of addiction to the drug ice.
The driver is receiving treatment for injuries he sustained when police dragged him from the car and handcuffed him in the wake of the pre-Christmas attack.
The off-duty sergeant sustained hand and shoulder injuries when he jumped in to restrain the driver after his car crashed into a tram stop. Acting Commissioner Shane Patton described him as a hero.
“We don’t have at this time any evidence or intelligence to indicate a connection with terrorism,” Acting Commissioner Shane Patton said. “Having said that we continue to support this investigation with the counter terror command.”
Mr Patton said a second man who was arrested at the scene is not believed to be connected with the car attack.
He said the second man had come under suspicion because he was filming the incident and was later found to have three knives in a bag.
Police said it was likely he would be exonerated.
The driver of the car was known to police, who said that he had a history of mental health issues and was on a mental health plan and had drug issues.
Mr Patton said the driver was an Australian citizen of Afghan descent and was driving a car owned by a family member.
Premier Daniel Andrews called the attack, which occurred at peak hour at one of the city’s busiest intersections, as an act of “evil and an act of cowardice”
“We’ve seen an horrific act, an act of cowardice perpetrated against innocent bystanders,” Mr Andrews said.
The man is believed to have been alone in his car when the incident occurred and police said they had seized no weapons from the vehicle but were investigating the possiblity that he was driving while impaired.
| PaulJohnson 10.03pm No weapons in the offender’s car
* There weren’t any weapons identified when he was taken from the vehicle, police say
* Police cannot confirm if the man driving the vehicle was an Afghan refugee or born in Australia.
| 9.56pm WATCH: Police suggest incident is not terror-related
Melbourne Police: 'We don't think this is related to terrorism'
| PaulJohnson 9.53pm Police say offender had minor criminal history
* There was one sole person in the car and that was the offender who is in custody.
* A second person had a bag with three knives and at this stage Vic police do not believe he was connected with the incident
* The driver is 32 years of age and had minor interactions with Vic police in the past
* Police confirm they are investigating impairment in relation to the offenders driving and are still following through with those.
* Police only became aware of this male as a result of his conduct in driving and running down the pedestrians
* The car was not stolen but registered to a family member.
* Police say it is not apt to describe it as a ‘lone wolf’ incident.
| PaulJohnson 9.47pm An act of evil, says Andrews
“This is an act of evil and an act of cowardice and one I am sure which will be condemned by all Victorians,” Victorian Premier Daniel Andrews.
| PaulJohnson 9.45pm No intelligence to suggest terrorism
* Police say driver has a history of drug use and mental health issues.
* Police believe it is a deliberate act
* Second man arrested at the scene was filing the incident and had a bag containing knives
* “At this time we don’t have any evidence or intelligence eto establish a connection with terrorism.”
| 9.40pm 32-year-old man was driving the car, say police
* The driver of the vehicle, a 32-year-old man, was arrested by an off-duty male police officer shortly after followed by general duties police and members from the Critical Incident Response Team (CIRT).
* The officer sustained shoulder and hand injuries during the arrest and has been conveyed to hospital.
* The driver has been taken to hospital under police guard.
* The second person arrested, a 24-year-old man, was arrested by CIRT.
* It’s now believed he had no links to the incident, however he is still assisting police with enquiries.
* Nineteen pedestrians were injured during the incident and conveyed to hospital.
* Two people were also treated for non-collision related injuries.
* At this time police believe this is a deliberate act, however it is only early in the investigation.
A vehicle attack on a busy pedestrian crossing in Melbourne’s Flinders Street which left 19 people in hospital was the work of a mentally ill drug addict, police believe.
The Australian understands the attack, which occurred at 4.41pm in the heart of downtown Melbourne, is not being treated as terrorism.
Rather, the driver is thought to be a mentally ill man with a history of addiction to the drug ice.
It is understood he has no known links to extremism and is not known to counter-terrorism authorities.
A second man pictured arrested at the scene was unconnected to the attack, The Australian has been told.
Police have said publicly the attack was deliberate but that the driver’s motive remained unknown.
| 8.50pm There will be a less Christmassy feel to Melbourne this evening
The majority of emergency services have left the scene though some police vehicles remain. There is a press conference expected later for this evening from Victorian Premier Daniel Andrews.
* At 4.45pm a Suzuki Grand Vitara speeds through intersection at Flinders and Elizabeth streets, hitting pedestrians.
* One pre-school aged child was hospitalised with severe head trauma
* Six others have been hospitalised with ‘critical’ injuries
* Over 19 people were injured in the incident
* Police described the incident as a ‘deliberate act’ stopping short of labelling it terror
* Police arrested two men at the scene and removed them
| 7.58pm The NZ PM has weighed in
My thoughts are with Australia and the people of Melbourne- such a shocking incident this afternoon. Thinking of all the victims and their families.
| 7.42pm Turnbull and Shorten weigh in on incident
As our federal & state police & security agencies work together to secure the scene and investigate this shocking incident our thoughts & prayers are with the victims & the emergency & health workers who are treating them. twitter.com/danielandrewsm…
Shocking scenes in Melbourne this afternoon. Credit to first responders who are doing us proud once again. Thinking of everyone caught up in this atrocity.
Victorian Premier Daniel Andrews described the event as a “horrible incident” and urged people to avoid the area.
“As you will know, there’s been a horrible incident on Flinders St. Police have secured the scene and will provide info as it’s confirmed.
“Please avoid the area.
“Trains running but trams affected. Stay safe. Check on your loved ones. And thank you to our brave emergency services.”
| 7.21pm IMAGES: Man arrested by police
| 7.13pm WATCH: Police drag man from car and cuff him
Man handcuffed at the scene of Flinders Street incident
“At this stage we believe it was a deliberate act, at this stage we do not know the motivation. It is still early days in the investigation,” Commander Russell Barrett said.
The men have not been charged at this stage, police said before indicating they would not give information out on the perpetrators.
The men have not been charged at this stage, police said before indicating they would not give information out on the perpetrators.
Police indicated that “several people are in a critical condition.”
Police could also not say how fast the car was travelling.
Victoria police speak to media over Melbourne pedestrian incident
| 7.02pm WATCH: Witnesses react from the scene
Car hits peak hour crowd, eye witness account from the scene
An ambulance spokesperson told The Australian the ambulance effort at the scene was wrapping up, with final numbers of injuries and casualties taken to hospital expected in the coming minutes.
As it currently stands, more than 13 people have been taken to hospital including a pre-school aged boy who has suffered a serious head injury and is in a serious condition at the Royal Children’s Hospital.
Little is known about the driver of the car and another man who was arrested at the scene.
Victoria Police have confirmed they have arrested two men in connection to an apparent road attack on Melbourne’s Flinders Street.
Police confirmed they have arrested the driver of the vehicle in addition to another man, but they have not given any reason for the second man’s arrest.
A Victoria Police update at 6:05pm said that police had “saturated” the area around the accident zone and a crime scene had been established.
They advised all car and pedestrian traffic to avoid the area, as they urged all witnesses who had seen anything to come forward.
More than 13 people have been taken to hospital after a white SUV with P-plates ploughed into pedestrians at the intersection of Flinders Street and Elizabeth Street at 4:40pm.
EARLIER
Witnesses reported seeing a fast-moving white Suzuki Grand Vitara four wheel drive slam into pedestrians crossing Flinders Street, at the Elizabeth Street intersection, at 4:41pm.
Ambulance Victoria confirmed that seven people had been hospitalised with three taken to the Alfred Hospital and three to the Royal Melbourne Hospital.
Emergency services are attending a chaotic scene, with witnesses describing the terrifying moment when the white car careered into pedestrians without warning.
“We could hear this noise coming from Swanston Street,’’ said Sue, who was working at a nearby doughnut shop.
“We see this white car and as it approaches this intersection here, Flinders Street and Elizabeth Street … it just mowed everyone down,’’ she told Radio 3AW. “People are crying everywhere. People are just on the road.
“The car must have hit something in middle of the road, the tram stop in the middle, and just ended up on the left side of the road.
“It didn’t seem like he was braking, nothing. He just mowed everyone down at the crossing.’’
Flinders St shopkeeper Vince said he arrived at the crash site two minutes after the car rammed the pedestrians.
“No screaming, just people lying there and people attending them,” he said.
He said there were “bodies everywhere” and lots of people trying to help.
Flinders Street aftermath
“Just holding them and comforting them, not moving them but keeping them comfortable.”
Vince said the police arrived quickly but he didn’t see any drawn guns.
He described the afternoon tragedy as “more dramatic” than January’s Bourke St rampage because it happened at a pedestrian crossing.
Vince said he saw a white SUV with a shattered windshield lying against the tram embankment and six or eight bodies on the ground before emergency services arrived.
Victoria Police advised at 5pm that they had arrested the driver of the car.
“Police are currently attending an incident on Flinders Street between Elizabeth and Swanston streets where a vehicle has collided with a number of pedestrians. Police have arrested the driver of the car. Extent of injuries are not known at this stage,” a Victoria Police announcement read on Twitter.
“Police are asking any witnesses to go to the Melbourne West Police Station at 313 Spencer Street, Melbourne and all vehicular and pedestrian traffic to avoid the area.”
At 5:30pm police issued a new statement saying they had “saturated the area” to ensure community safety.
“A number of people are being treated at the scene for any witnesses to attend the Melbourne
West Police Station at 313 Spencer Street, Melbourne.
Support services are also available at Melbourne West Police Station, the police said.
Police are continuing to push pedestrians out of the inner area around the accident and are steadily blocking off streets spreading out from the accident zone.
Commuters are being instructed to head to Melbourne Central Station.
Yarra Trams have cancelled services to the area pending an emergency services request, and have urged commuters in the area to use train services to move between Flinders Street station and Melbourne Central, Richmond and Jolimont station.
Comments