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You can find the current article at its original source at https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2017/sep/30/armed-man-arrested-after-driving-erratically-in-melbournes-cbd
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| 'Armed' man arrested after driving erratically in Melbourne's CBD | 'Armed' man arrested after driving erratically in Melbourne's CBD |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| A man said to have been armed and driving erratically near Melbourne’s Federation Square on AFL grand final day has been shot with a stun gun and arrested by police. | A man said to have been armed and driving erratically near Melbourne’s Federation Square on AFL grand final day has been shot with a stun gun and arrested by police. |
| Police have ruled out any terrorism link, and say they do not believe the man intended to harm anyone. | Police have ruled out any terrorism link, and say they do not believe the man intended to harm anyone. |
| The man, who has mental health problems according to the police, was seen driving erratically in Melbourne’s CBD about 8am on Saturday. | The man, who has mental health problems according to the police, was seen driving erratically in Melbourne’s CBD about 8am on Saturday. |
| A member of the public threw a hire bike under the green four-wheel drive to try to stop it. | A member of the public threw a hire bike under the green four-wheel drive to try to stop it. |
| A critical incident response team confronted the man on the corner of Swanston and Flinders streets. | A critical incident response team confronted the man on the corner of Swanston and Flinders streets. |
| The man is believed to be in his early 20s and was wearing a black military uniform with a black rucksack. He was armed, but police were unable to confirm details on Saturday morning. | The man is believed to be in his early 20s and was wearing a black military uniform with a black rucksack. He was armed, but police were unable to confirm details on Saturday morning. |
| Acting superintendent Wayne Newman said the man had been taken to hospital for a mental health assessment. | Acting superintendent Wayne Newman said the man had been taken to hospital for a mental health assessment. |
| He said there was only light pedestrian traffic around Federation Square at the time. | He said there was only light pedestrian traffic around Federation Square at the time. |
| The man was not making threatening remarks, and posed little risk, Newman said. | The man was not making threatening remarks, and posed little risk, Newman said. |
| “We’ve got no information that he was trying to harm anyone. His driving was certainly erratic, which is concerning to Victoria Police and the community, but there was no intention that I’m aware of that he was trying to hurt anyone,” he said. | “We’ve got no information that he was trying to harm anyone. His driving was certainly erratic, which is concerning to Victoria Police and the community, but there was no intention that I’m aware of that he was trying to hurt anyone,” he said. |
| Newman said the police were not investigating any terror links. The military uniform worn by the man was widely available at retail stores, he said. | Newman said the police were not investigating any terror links. The military uniform worn by the man was widely available at retail stores, he said. |
| “At this stage, CT [counter-terrorism] links are not something we are looking at in any depth. We certainly scan the horizon for any links of that nature, however, at the moment, we are treating this simply as a mental health issue.” | “At this stage, CT [counter-terrorism] links are not something we are looking at in any depth. We certainly scan the horizon for any links of that nature, however, at the moment, we are treating this simply as a mental health issue.” |
| The bomb response unit searched the vehicle and the area was cordoned off. | |
| Newman said that was a standard response because of the erratic nature of the man’s driving. | Newman said that was a standard response because of the erratic nature of the man’s driving. |
| Asked about the actions of bystanders, he cautioned the public against intervening. | Asked about the actions of bystanders, he cautioned the public against intervening. |
| “I think what it shows is that the community has a heightened sense of vigilance in relation to that, and certainly Victorians won’t stand by idly and let these things occur,” he said. | “I think what it shows is that the community has a heightened sense of vigilance in relation to that, and certainly Victorians won’t stand by idly and let these things occur,” he said. |