| One person died and two were injured after a gunman opened fire on a busy street in the centre of Melbourne in Australia at the height of rush hour. | One person died and two were injured after a gunman opened fire on a busy street in the centre of Melbourne in Australia at the height of rush hour. |
| The two who were hurt reportedly both suffered chest wounds and were taken to hospital in a critical condition. | The two who were hurt reportedly both suffered chest wounds and were taken to hospital in a critical condition. |
| The gunman escaped on foot and is now being sought by police. | The gunman escaped on foot and is now being sought by police. |
Much of the city centre has been closed, with people being warned to stay indoors, as armed officers, backed by helicopters, search the area. | Parts of the city centre were closed, with people being warned to stay indoors as armed officers, backed by helicopters, search the area. |
| A weapon was recovered from the scene, but police fear the man might still be armed. | A weapon was recovered from the scene, but police fear the man might still be armed. |
| The incident on the corner of Flinders and William Streets happened during the morning rush hour, sending hundreds of commuters fleeing for cover. | The incident on the corner of Flinders and William Streets happened during the morning rush hour, sending hundreds of commuters fleeing for cover. |
| He let go of her hair, pulled out a gun and shot them all Witness Ross Murchie Police believe that one of the injured victims, a woman, knew the assailant. | He let go of her hair, pulled out a gun and shot them all Witness Ross Murchie Police believe that one of the injured victims, a woman, knew the assailant. |
| "There is no suggestion this is a random act - it appears there was a relation with the gunman and the victims, so we are asking people not to panic," Victoria Police Inspector Glen Weir said. | "There is no suggestion this is a random act - it appears there was a relation with the gunman and the victims, so we are asking people not to panic," Victoria Police Inspector Glen Weir said. |
| "There are numerous police attending the search within the vicinity of the incident and there's a large cordon and containment operation under way as we speak," Inspector Weir added. | "There are numerous police attending the search within the vicinity of the incident and there's a large cordon and containment operation under way as we speak," Inspector Weir added. |
| Businesses closed | Businesses closed |
| "A girl came out of a building over the road, she was screaming and a guy had her by the hair," witness Ross Murchie told the Australian Broadcasting Corp. | "A girl came out of a building over the road, she was screaming and a guy had her by the hair," witness Ross Murchie told the Australian Broadcasting Corp. |
| Workers have been warned to stay inside offices and shops"She tried to grab hold of a taxi that was going by and the couple of bystanders went over to ask what was happening," Mr Murchie said. | Workers have been warned to stay inside offices and shops"She tried to grab hold of a taxi that was going by and the couple of bystanders went over to ask what was happening," Mr Murchie said. |
| "He let go of her hair, pulled out a gun and shot them all." | "He let go of her hair, pulled out a gun and shot them all." |
| The other person who was injured and the one who died were both reported as male. | The other person who was injured and the one who died were both reported as male. |
| The incident forced the closure of a number of streets in the commercial heart of what is Australia's second-largest city, with shops and offices shut as armed police and helicopters hunt for the gunman. | The incident forced the closure of a number of streets in the commercial heart of what is Australia's second-largest city, with shops and offices shut as armed police and helicopters hunt for the gunman. |
| "No-one is allowed out of the building - we have to close down everything, customers are inside, we have to remain inside," shop owner Hened Mouawad told AFP. | "No-one is allowed out of the building - we have to close down everything, customers are inside, we have to remain inside," shop owner Hened Mouawad told AFP. |
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