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Melbourne car deaths: Four killed as driver strikes pedestrians | |
(about 1 hour later) | |
Four people, including a young child, have died after a car deliberately hit pedestrians in central Melbourne, police say. | |
At least 29 people were injured, among them a baby who is in a critical condition after the car hit a pram. | At least 29 people were injured, among them a baby who is in a critical condition after the car hit a pram. |
Police say they rammed the car, shot the driver in the arm and arrested him. | Police say they rammed the car, shot the driver in the arm and arrested him. |
They say the incident was not terror-related, but is believed to be linked to a stabbing in the south east of Melbourne early on Friday. | |
The car ploughed into pedestrians in the Bourke St Mall, a busy shopping area, just before 14:00 (03:00 GMT). | The car ploughed into pedestrians in the Bourke St Mall, a busy shopping area, just before 14:00 (03:00 GMT). |
Footage broadcast on local media captured moments before showed a maroon car driving in circles, with the driver leaning out of the window, in front of Flinders Street railway station. | Footage broadcast on local media captured moments before showed a maroon car driving in circles, with the driver leaning out of the window, in front of Flinders Street railway station. |
A witness told the BBC she saw pedestrians try to get out the way as the car mounted a footpath. | A witness told the BBC she saw pedestrians try to get out the way as the car mounted a footpath. |
"It hit a few people there outside the offices and convenience store and sent them flying into the air, then kept driving," the witness said. | "It hit a few people there outside the offices and convenience store and sent them flying into the air, then kept driving," the witness said. |
"It hit some more further up the path. I didn't know what was happening at first. People were screaming and there was a lot of sound and dust - I thought a building was coming down." | "It hit some more further up the path. I didn't know what was happening at first. People were screaming and there was a lot of sound and dust - I thought a building was coming down." |
Another witness, Sharn Baylis, estimated the car to be travelling at 60km/h (37 mph) "in a straight line". | |
"It was such an enclosed busy area," she told ABC. | "It was such an enclosed busy area," she told ABC. |
Witness Maria Kitjapanon told Melbourne's Age newspaper that the car was rammed by a police car and that about 10 police surrounded the car, with guns drawn, and fired into the car. | Witness Maria Kitjapanon told Melbourne's Age newspaper that the car was rammed by a police car and that about 10 police surrounded the car, with guns drawn, and fired into the car. |
"Then they dragged someone out via the passenger side, then all 10 of them sat on top of him," she said. | "Then they dragged someone out via the passenger side, then all 10 of them sat on top of him," she said. |
Police say the same man was involved in an an attack on his brother in the early hours of the morning in a Melbourne suburb. | Police say the same man was involved in an an attack on his brother in the early hours of the morning in a Melbourne suburb. |
It is believed he then went on to take a woman hostage in the car. She was released before the driver proceeded to the city centre and started to hit pedestrians. | |
The police say the man is known to them, and has a long history of family violence, drug issues and mental health problems. | The police say the man is known to them, and has a long history of family violence, drug issues and mental health problems. |
He was also charged at the weekend in relation to an assault. | He was also charged at the weekend in relation to an assault. |
The four people who died have not been named, but police say that among them were a man and woman in their 30s, and a young child, none of whom were related to each other. | |
The injured baby was three months old. Also among the injured was a two-year-old who is in a serious condition, and children aged nine and 12. | |
The Premier of Victoria, Daniel Andrews, said the emergency services had "done us proud" in their response to what he described as an evil criminal act". | The Premier of Victoria, Daniel Andrews, said the emergency services had "done us proud" in their response to what he described as an evil criminal act". |
"Our hearts are breaking this afternoon," he said. | "Our hearts are breaking this afternoon," he said. |
He also praised people in the city who had "reached out to provide support and care to strangers". | He also praised people in the city who had "reached out to provide support and care to strangers". |
Lord Mayor Robert Doyle said he was standing outside Melbourne Town Hall when he saw the car drive "at speed" towards Bourke St Mall. | Lord Mayor Robert Doyle said he was standing outside Melbourne Town Hall when he saw the car drive "at speed" towards Bourke St Mall. |
"It is very difficult to believe that these sorts of things can happen right in front of you in the middle of our city," he said in a video posted online. | "It is very difficult to believe that these sorts of things can happen right in front of you in the middle of our city," he said in a video posted online. |
"Spare a thought particularly for those families - the loved ones of those affected - and let's try and take care of each other." | "Spare a thought particularly for those families - the loved ones of those affected - and let's try and take care of each other." |
The Australian Open tennis event, being played about 2km (1.2 miles) away, was unaffected, police said. | The Australian Open tennis event, being played about 2km (1.2 miles) away, was unaffected, police said. |