Multiple people injured as car ‘deliberately’ hits pedestrians in Melbourne
14 people injured as car 'deliberately' hits pedestrians in Melbourne
(35 minutes later)
A white SUV rammed into pedestrians in Melbourne, Australia, leaving at least 14 people injured. Police arrested two people and believe the incident was “a deliberate act,” though the driver’s motivation remains unknown.
Fourteen people have been injured after an SUV rammed into pedestrians outside a train station in Melbourne. Two people were arrested, with police saying they believe the incident was a "deliberate act."
“At this stage we believe this is a deliberate act, however, we do not yet know the motivation and it is still early stages in the investigation,” Commander Russell Barrett of Victoria Police told reporters.
The incident occurred in front of Flinders Street Station, between Elizabeth and Swanston streets, just after 4:30pm local time, according to police.
Asked why police believe it was a deliberate attack, Commander Barrett reiterated that it was still “early in the investigation and motivations are unknown.” Fourteen people were taken to the hospital, and “several” are in critical condition, he said.
"We could hear this noise, as we looked left, we saw this white car, it just mauled everybody down. People are flying everywhere. We heard thump, thump. People are running everywhere,” an eyewitness named Sue told News.com.au. Videos on social media show chaotic scenes, with injured people lying on the ground and law enforcement agents urging people to leave the area.
Earlier, Victoria Ambulance reported that 13 people had been taken to hospital, while two more were being assessed at the scene. A four-year-old girl is reportedly among those transferred to hospital.
"The car just sped up on purpose,” a witness told 9News. Another witness by the name of David told ABC that the car was going “between 60 and 100kms an hour” and “hit people in a fair speed and at least one or two of them got thrown pretty high into the air.”
The incident occurred on Flinders Street between Elizabeth and Swanston streets, in front of Flinders Street Station just after 4:30pm, according to police.
Fourteen people were taken to hospital, and "several" are in critical condition, Commander Russell Barrett of Victoria Police told reporters. A four-year-old girl is reportedly among those transferred to hospital.
The driver and the other man who were arrested remain in police custody.
“At this stage we believe this is a deliberate act, however, we do not yet know the motivation and it is still early stages in the investigation,” Barrett said.
Footage circulating in the local media shows two police officers dragging a man in a white shirt and blue jeans away from the passenger side of the crashed vehicle. Another video published on social media shows officers restraining him moments later, after pulling him to the side of the road. The man appears to be unconscious as officers slap his face and search his pockets. He was reportedly then handcuffed by police.
Two people were arrested following the incident, including the driver of the SUV.
“We could hear this noise, as we looked left, we saw this white car, it just mauled everybody down. People are flying everywhere. We heard thump, thump. People are running everywhere,” an eyewitness named Sue told News.com.au. Videos on social media show chaotic scenes from the scene, with injured people lying on the ground and law enforcement agents urging people to leave the area.
Footage circulating online shows two police officers dragging a man in a white shirt and jeans away from the passenger side of the crashed vehicle. Another video published on social media shows officers restraining him moments later, after pulling him to the side of the road. The man appears to be unconscious as officers slap his face and search his pockets. He was reportedly then handcuffed by police.
“The car just sped up on purpose,” one of the witnesses told 9News. Other onlookers also reported that the SUV was driving at a high speed.
Another witness, David, told ABC the car was going “between 60 and 100kms an hour” and “hit people in a fair speed and at least one or two of them got thrown pretty high into the air.”
Police cordoned off the area, and Flinders Lane is blocked off through to Elizabeth Street.
