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Man arrested after suffering serious burns in Sydney police station incident Man arrested after suffering serious burns in Sydney police station incident
(about 9 hours later)
A man has been arrested after he suffered serious burns in an incident at Merrylands police station in western Sydney.A man has been arrested after he suffered serious burns in an incident at Merrylands police station in western Sydney.
Officers approached a vehicle outside the police car park about 7pm, NSW police assistant commissioner Denis Clifford said on Thursday night.Officers approached a vehicle outside the police car park about 7pm, NSW police assistant commissioner Denis Clifford said on Thursday night.
It appeared some form of accelerant was used, causing a fire, and the vehicle collided with the roller shutter of the police carpark, Clifford said. It appeared some form of accelerant was used, causing a fire, and the vehicle was driven into the roller shutter of the police carpark, Clifford said.
“He was unconscious for some time. Police extinguished the flames and extricated the person from the vehicle,” Clifford said.“He was unconscious for some time. Police extinguished the flames and extricated the person from the vehicle,” Clifford said.
“He has been treated by ambulance and conveyed to hospital in a serious condition.” The man was taken to Royal North Shore hospital, where he was in a serious but stable condition overnight.
Related: George Christensen retracts 'radical Islamists' claim over Merrylands incidentRelated: George Christensen retracts 'radical Islamists' claim over Merrylands incident
The man suffered serious burns, Clifford said.The man suffered serious burns, Clifford said.
He said police were still trying to establish the man’s identity, and stressed that it was not clear what the man’s motive was.He said police were still trying to establish the man’s identity, and stressed that it was not clear what the man’s motive was.
Asked whether the incident had any links to violence extremism, NSW police assistance commissioner Denis Clifford told reporters: “That’s not one of our lines of inquiry. There’s nothing to indicate this is in any way related to terrorism. We’ll keep an open mind, but we’re not leaning that way at this stage.” Asked whether the incident had any links to violence extremism, Clifford told reporters: “That’s not one of our lines of inquiry. There’s nothing to indicate this is in any way related to terrorism. We’ll keep an open mind, but we’re not leaning that way at this stage.”
Officers from the rescue and bomb disposal unit were examining the car, an earlier police statement said. No one else was hurt in the incident. The ABC reported on Friday morning that the man was a 61-year-old Czech national who was known to police.
Officers from the rescue and bomb disposal unit examined the car, an earlier police statement said. No one else was hurt in the incident.
“The police reacted very bravely and it’s ... a miracle that no one else was seriously injured,” Clifford said.
Two witnesses told Guardian Australia the police had blocked off Merrylands Road, and there was a strong burning smell from the area shortly after the incident.Two witnesses told Guardian Australia the police had blocked off Merrylands Road, and there was a strong burning smell from the area shortly after the incident.
Rafi Younes, the chief executive of Merrylands Century 21 real estate agency, said: “All the roads are blocked so the police wouldn’t let anybody go close. We’ve been told to close the shops and leave the area.”Rafi Younes, the chief executive of Merrylands Century 21 real estate agency, said: “All the roads are blocked so the police wouldn’t let anybody go close. We’ve been told to close the shops and leave the area.”
Younes and his colleague Leonardo De La Vega said they had been told a man drove into the police station.Younes and his colleague Leonardo De La Vega said they had been told a man drove into the police station.
“So they had riot police and ambulance outside the street,” De La Vega said.“So they had riot police and ambulance outside the street,” De La Vega said.
“You could smell something was burning, you could smell it burning.”“You could smell something was burning, you could smell it burning.”