Latest: Irish person injured after crowd struck by car in Melbourne
- One Irish person injurerd in incident.
- A white Suzuki SUV struck a number of pedestrians in front of Flinders Street Station just after 4.30pm local time on Thursday
- The driver of the vehicle and a second man have been arrested and are in police custody
- 19 pedestrians were injured
- Police believe it was a "deliberate act"
One Irish person has been injured after a car was driven into a crowd of pedestrians on a busy street in Melbourne.
The Department of Foreign Affairs have confirmed consular assistance has been offered to the family.
A driver arrested after a car was driven into pedestrians in Melbourne was a 32-year-old Australian of Afghan descent with a history of drug use and mental health problems, police have said.
Victoria Police chief Shane Patton said a second man, aged 24, who was arrested after he was seen filming the incident was found to have a bag containing knives.
Investigators have found no evidence to suggest a link with terrorism and Mr Patton said they had not established any relationship between the two men.
Some 19 people were injured, four critically, when a white car was driven "in a deliberate" act at crowds outside Flinders Street station at around 4.30pm on Thursday.
The driver of the car was detained by an off-duty police officer, who was later taken to hospital with injuries not believed to be critical.
Mr Patton told a press conference the driver had resisted arrest and there had been "somewhat of a fight between them".
He added: "We have reviewed the footage and are satisfied that he was driving the car without anyone else present.
"He has be taken to hospital as a result of the incident, as has the police officer.
"He is a person known to Victoria Police. He has historical assault matters an has a history of drug use as well as mental health issues.
"We understand that was on a mental health plan and receiving treatment."
He added: "We do not at this time have any intelligence to indicate that there is a connection to terrorism."
A second man, aged 24, who was arrested in close proximity to the scene in Melbourne was discovered to have a bag containing knives after he was seen filming the incident, police said.
Fourteen people have been injured, several critically, after a car struck pedestrians in Melbourne, Australia, in what police described as "a deliberate act".
Witnesses say the car made no attempt to slow down.
Australian Police on Melbourne car incident: "At this stage, we believe it is a deliberate act, however, we do not know the motivation" https://t.co/HTnZN0hNyd pic.twitter.com/baRx2gs7uT
— CNN (@CNN) December 21, 2017
Witnesses described "people flying everywhere" as a white car was driven at crowds outside Flinders Street station in Melbourne just after 4.30pm (5.30am GMT).
Officers said several people are in a critical condition, adding it was "early days" in the investigation and the motivation was unknown.
Commander Russell Barrett said: "Police arrived at the scene within minutes and arrested two men. At this stage we have 14 people injured and several are critical. At this stage we believe it is a deliberate act, however we do not know the motivation and it is still the early stages of the investigation.
As many as 19 people have been injured after a car drove into a crowd in central Melbourne pic.twitter.com/bn9abCILdY
— Sky News (@SkyNews) December 21, 2017
"Police and emergency service will remain on scene for the foreseeable future. The crime scene will be in place for a considerable amount of the time."
Images from the scene showed a number of people receiving medical attention, while a white Suzuki SUV appeared to have crashed to a stop.
A woman called Sue told 3AW radio: "As it (the car) approached this intersection... it just mowed everybody down, people were flying everywhere."
Social media images appeared to show a young man in jeans and a T-shirt being arrested by three police officers on the steps of the station, although it was unclear if he had been in the car.
Sky News said the driver of the SUV was of Middle Eastern appearance and that he was wrestled to the ground and handcuffed following the crash.
Lachlan Read told the Herald Sun the whole incident lasted about 15 seconds.
"It was bang, bang, bang. It was just one after the other.
"The last bang the car stopped," the 20-year-old said. "There were bodies on the ground and people running up to them - it was mayhem.
"It is definitely something you don't expect to see on Flinders Street."
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. https://t.co/JkUM9TuIQe
— Malcolm Turnbull (@TurnbullMalcolm) December 21, 2017
It was the first week of school summer holidays in Victoria, and the area was busy with Christmas shoppers.
Elton Hindoli, who works at an off licence by the scene of the incident in Elizabeth St, told the Herald Sun that a man who was pulled from the car appeared to be unconscious.
"A girl came into the shop and she was very upset," he said.
"She said a guy in a big car had hit about six people.
"It wasn't clear if the driver was hitting them on purpose or not.
"He hit the people then crashed into the tram area in the middle of the road."
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.
— Dan Andrews (@DanielAndrewsMP) December 21, 2017
A man who was working in a nearby shop and was at the scene before emergency services arrived told the Australian Associated Press: "There was no screaming, just people lying there."
Australian prime minister Malcolm Turnbull tweeted: "As our federal and state police and security agencies work together to secure the scene and investigate this shocking incident, our thoughts and prayers are with the victims and the emergency and health workers who are treating them."
The incident follows a spate of attacks in major cities in Europe and the US in which terrorists have used vehicles as a weapon again innocent people.
Eighty-six people were killed in Nice in July 2016 when a lorry was driven into crowds celebrating Bastille Day.
Twelve people died in December last year when a truck was driven at crowds at a Christmas market in Berlin.
Four pedestrians and a police officer were killed by Khalid Masood in the Westminster Bridge attack in March.
In June, eight people were killed and 48 injured when three terrorists ploughed into pedestrians on London Bridge then went on a knife rampage in Borough Market.
Thirteen people were killed when a van was driven down Barcelona's Las Ramblas in August, and in October, eight died in a truck attack in New York.
Two men have been arrested after a car ploughed into crowds of pedestrians in the Australian city of Melbourne.
More than a dozen people are in hospital including a young child with head injuries.
Police said victims have a "range of injuries".
Police in Australia are investigating after a car collided with several pedestrians outside Melbourne's main railway station.
Emergency crews said 15 people have been injured.
Thirteen of those injured have been taken to hospital - including a child with head injuries.
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. (1/2)
— Victoria Police (@VictoriaPolice) December 21, 2017
Two more people are being assessed by paramedics at the scene.
Police said they have arrested the driver of the car in the city centre.
Police are asking all vehicular and pedestrian traffic to avoid the area.
