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Melbourne crash: Driver arrested after hitting pedestrians Melbourne crash: Driver arrested after hitting pedestrians
(35 minutes later)
Australian police have arrested two people after a car drove into a crowd in Melbourne.Australian police have arrested two people after a car drove into a crowd in Melbourne.
The car "collided with a number of pedestrians" on Flinders Street, a busy junction in the centre of the city, said Victoria Police.The car "collided with a number of pedestrians" on Flinders Street, a busy junction in the centre of the city, said Victoria Police.
The state ambulance service say 13 people have been taken to hospital. Several are in a critical condition. Fourteen people have been injured, with several in a critical condition.
Police have said it was a deliberate act but it is too early to say whether it was terrorist-related. Police have said it was a deliberate act but said it was too early to say whether it was terrorist-related.
They have asked people to avoid the area.
The driver and another man have been detained.The driver and another man have been detained.
The incident happened just after 16:30 local time (05:30 GMT). "The motivations are unknown," police commander Russell Barrett said.
Images from the scene show a number of people lying on the ground close to a large white vehicle. The white SUV struck pedestrians just after 16:30 local time (05:30 GMT).
Victoria Ambulance said in a statement that a child of pre-school age had been taken to hospital with serious head injuries. Witness Jim Stoupas, who runs a business nearby, told the BBC: "It just barrelled through a completely full intersection of pedestrians. There was no attempt to brake, no attempt to swerve."
One witness told local radio station 3AW the car had "just mowed everybody down, people were flying everywhere". He added: "I saw probably five to eight people on the ground with people swarming around them [to help]. Within a minute, I think, there were police on site, so it was very, very speedy."
Victoria Ambulance said in a statement that a child of pre-school age with serious head injuries was among those taken to hospital.
Another witness, Lachlan Read, told the Herald Sun the whole incident lasted about 15 seconds.Another witness, Lachlan Read, told the Herald Sun the whole incident lasted about 15 seconds.
"He has gone straight through the red light at pace and it was bang, bang, bang. It was just one after the other," he said of the moment the vehicle started hitting people."He has gone straight through the red light at pace and it was bang, bang, bang. It was just one after the other," he said of the moment the vehicle started hitting people.
The leader of the Australian opposition, Bill Shorten, tweeted about the "shocking scenes" and praised the emergency services. Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull said on Twitter that the investigations had begun, and sent "thoughts and prayers" to those affected.
The leader of the Australian opposition, Bill Shorten, also tweeted about the "shocking scenes" and praised the emergency services.
In January, six people died when a man drove a car into pedestrians on Bourke Street.In January, six people died when a man drove a car into pedestrians on Bourke Street.
Afterwards, city authorities installed concrete blocks in various locations - including on Flinders Street - hoping to prevent vehicle-based attacks.Afterwards, city authorities installed concrete blocks in various locations - including on Flinders Street - hoping to prevent vehicle-based attacks.
In September, a 15-year-old boy dressed in black combat gear was seen driving erratically down nearby Swanston Street.In September, a 15-year-old boy dressed in black combat gear was seen driving erratically down nearby Swanston Street.
After a confrontation with police he was subdued with a Taser outside Flinders Street Station. Police later said it was not a terrorist incident.After a confrontation with police he was subdued with a Taser outside Flinders Street Station. Police later said it was not a terrorist incident.
Are you in the area? Did you witness the incident? If it is safe for you to do so, please get in touch with us by emailing: haveyoursay@bbc.co.uk.Are you in the area? Did you witness the incident? If it is safe for you to do so, please get in touch with us by emailing: haveyoursay@bbc.co.uk.
If you are available to talk to a BBC journalist, please include a telephone number.If you are available to talk to a BBC journalist, please include a telephone number.
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