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Melbourne Crowd Is Hit by S.U.V., and Driver Is Arrested Melbourne Driver Is Arrested in ‘Deliberate Act’ of Hitting Crowd
(35 minutes later)
MELBOURNE, Australia — An S.U.V. plowed into a midday crowd on a busy street in central Melbourne on Thursday, injuring more than a dozen people, including a child, according to witnesses and officials. MELBOURNE, Australia — An S.U.V. plowed into a midday crowd on a busy street in central Melbourne on Thursday, injuring more than a dozen people, including a child, in what the police called “a deliberate act.”
The driver of the vehicle and a second person were arrested, the authorities in the Australian state of Victoria said. They would not say whether the case was terrorism-related and did not release the names of the two who were arrested. The driver of the vehicle and a second person were arrested, although Cmdr. Russell Barrett of the Victoria Police said, “We do not know the motivations.” The police would not say whether the case was terrorism-related and did not release the names of the two in custody.
“Police are currently attending an incident on Flinders Street between Elizabeth and Swanston streets where a vehicle has collided with a number of pedestrians,” the Victoria police said in a post on Facebook. “Police have arrested the driver of the car.”
At least 13 people were taken to hospitals, some with serious injuries, and two more were being examined at the scene, Ambulance Victoria said on Twitter.At least 13 people were taken to hospitals, some with serious injuries, and two more were being examined at the scene, Ambulance Victoria said on Twitter.
A Victoria newspaper, The Age, reported that a preschool-age child had been taken to the hospital with a head injury.A Victoria newspaper, The Age, reported that a preschool-age child had been taken to the hospital with a head injury.
One witness, Federica Viezzoli, 40, described the vehicle “smashing into people” after it turned onto Flinders Street.One witness, Federica Viezzoli, 40, described the vehicle “smashing into people” after it turned onto Flinders Street.
“They basically were just bumped into the air, a couple of them,” she said of the victims. “I heard the noise of bones crushing. It was kinda terrible. And the car ended up near the tram tracks.”“They basically were just bumped into the air, a couple of them,” she said of the victims. “I heard the noise of bones crushing. It was kinda terrible. And the car ended up near the tram tracks.”
The crash happened just blocks from where a driver in January ran down a group of people with his car in a busy pedestrian mall, killing four and injuring at least 20 others before he was shot and taken into custody. The police said he was fleeing the police after stabbing his brother.The crash happened just blocks from where a driver in January ran down a group of people with his car in a busy pedestrian mall, killing four and injuring at least 20 others before he was shot and taken into custody. The police said he was fleeing the police after stabbing his brother.
After that crash, the police installed bollards to protect pedestrians from similar incidents.After that crash, the police installed bollards to protect pedestrians from similar incidents.
Police and antiterrorism officials have become increasingly concerned about the possibility of deadly attacks on pedestrians with vehicles. In October, a man drove his truck into a group of pedestrians along the West Side Highway in Manhattan, killing eight people and injuring 12 in what the police called an act of terrorism. Investigators said he was inspired to commit the attack by Islamic State propaganda videos.Police and antiterrorism officials have become increasingly concerned about the possibility of deadly attacks on pedestrians with vehicles. In October, a man drove his truck into a group of pedestrians along the West Side Highway in Manhattan, killing eight people and injuring 12 in what the police called an act of terrorism. Investigators said he was inspired to commit the attack by Islamic State propaganda videos.
Other vehicle attacks have claimed victims in Nice, France, as well as in Berlin and in London. Vehicle attacks have also claimed victims in Nice, France, as well as in Berlin, Barcelona and London, among others.
After Thursday’s crash, the police appealed to the public to submit video of the incident to help with the investigation.After Thursday’s crash, the police appealed to the public to submit video of the incident to help with the investigation.