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You can find the current article at its original source at https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2017/dec/21/pedestrians-hit-by-a-car-on-melbournes-flinders-street-police-say
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| Flinders Street: two arrested after car crashes into pedestrians in Melbourne | Flinders Street: two arrested after car crashes into pedestrians in Melbourne |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| Two men have been arrested after a car ploughed through an intersection and critically injured pedestrians outside of Flinders Street station in Melbourne in what police have described as a “deliberate act”. | Two men have been arrested after a car ploughed through an intersection and critically injured pedestrians outside of Flinders Street station in Melbourne in what police have described as a “deliberate act”. |
| At a press conference on Thursday night, the acting police commissioner, Shane Patton, told reporters that the driver of the vehicle was a 32-year-old man who was arrested by an off-duty police sergeant who was on the scene within 15 seconds. A 24-year-old man seen filming the incident was also arrested and Patton said it was unknown what his relationship was, if any, to the driver, or if he was involved in the incident. The man filming was searched and was found to be in possession of a bag containing knives. | At a press conference on Thursday night, the acting police commissioner, Shane Patton, told reporters that the driver of the vehicle was a 32-year-old man who was arrested by an off-duty police sergeant who was on the scene within 15 seconds. A 24-year-old man seen filming the incident was also arrested and Patton said it was unknown what his relationship was, if any, to the driver, or if he was involved in the incident. The man filming was searched and was found to be in possession of a bag containing knives. |
| “[The man] in this incident, who we are alleging was driving the car, we have reviewed footage and at this stage we are satisfied that he was driving the car without anyone else present at all,” Patton said. “He has been taken to hospital as a result of his injuries, as has the police officer. As a result of the attack, a large number of people were injured, some critically.” | |
| Patton said police did not have any evidence or intelligence to indicate a connection with terrorism. The driver, an Australian citizen of Afghan descent, has a history of drug use and mental health issues, he said, and was receiving treatment for mental illness. | Patton said police did not have any evidence or intelligence to indicate a connection with terrorism. The driver, an Australian citizen of Afghan descent, has a history of drug use and mental health issues, he said, and was receiving treatment for mental illness. |
| “He is still in custody, under arrest for these offences, for what we allege was a deliberate act,” Patton said. “Obviously, at this time, the scene is being worked on by our major collision investigation unit.” | “He is still in custody, under arrest for these offences, for what we allege was a deliberate act,” Patton said. “Obviously, at this time, the scene is being worked on by our major collision investigation unit.” |
| He added that the investigation “has to be slow, has to be methodic”. | He added that the investigation “has to be slow, has to be methodic”. |
| The premier, Daniel Andrews, said 19 people had been admitted to hospital, including the alleged offender. | The premier, Daniel Andrews, said 19 people had been admitted to hospital, including the alleged offender. |
| “Fifteen are in a stable condition,” he said. “Four are in a critical condition. The [driver] is one of those patients and is not in a critical condition, and indeed, the off-duty arresting officer ... did suffer some injuries.” | |
| The prime minister, Malcolm Turnbull, tweeted: “As our federal and state police and security agencies work together to secure the scene and investigate this shocking incident our thoughts and prayers are with the victims and the emergency and health workers who are treating them.” | The prime minister, Malcolm Turnbull, tweeted: “As our federal and state police and security agencies work together to secure the scene and investigate this shocking incident our thoughts and prayers are with the victims and the emergency and health workers who are treating them.” |
| Victoria police said in a statement on Thursday afternoon: “Police have saturated the CBD area following an incident where a car has collided with a number of pedestrians on Flinders Street. The incident occurred when the vehicle struck a number of pedestrians in front of Flinders Street station just after 4.30pm. | Victoria police said in a statement on Thursday afternoon: “Police have saturated the CBD area following an incident where a car has collided with a number of pedestrians on Flinders Street. The incident occurred when the vehicle struck a number of pedestrians in front of Flinders Street station just after 4.30pm. |
| “The driver of the vehicle and a second man have been arrested and are in police custody.” | “The driver of the vehicle and a second man have been arrested and are in police custody.” |
| Police said the incident occurred between Elizabeth and Swanston streets and a crime scene had been established. It is one of the city’s busiest intersections. Businesses in the area were ordered to close and people have been urged to keep clear of the scene and to leave any cars or belongings that might remain in the area. | Police said the incident occurred between Elizabeth and Swanston streets and a crime scene had been established. It is one of the city’s busiest intersections. Businesses in the area were ordered to close and people have been urged to keep clear of the scene and to leave any cars or belongings that might remain in the area. |
| “Police are asking any witnesses to go to the Melbourne West police station at 313 Spencer Street, Melbourne, and all vehicular and pedestrian traffic to avoid the area.” | “Police are asking any witnesses to go to the Melbourne West police station at 313 Spencer Street, Melbourne, and all vehicular and pedestrian traffic to avoid the area.” |
| Rose Stoupas owns Walker’s Doughnuts on the corner of Flinders and Elizabeth streets. She told Guardian Australia: “It was mayhem, there were people flying everywhere and the police have ordered all businesses to close their stores. | Rose Stoupas owns Walker’s Doughnuts on the corner of Flinders and Elizabeth streets. She told Guardian Australia: “It was mayhem, there were people flying everywhere and the police have ordered all businesses to close their stores. |
| “Lots of people were injured, I’m very shocked, the [car] is still there but pedestrians have been cleared mostly from the area ... It’s a shitty, shitty day.” | “Lots of people were injured, I’m very shocked, the [car] is still there but pedestrians have been cleared mostly from the area ... It’s a shitty, shitty day.” |
| Paramedics have now transported 13 people to city hospitals. Two more people are being assessed by paramedics at the scene. | Paramedics have now transported 13 people to city hospitals. Two more people are being assessed by paramedics at the scene. |
| Her husband, Jim, was standing outside their store when the man drove his car into the crowd of pedestrians crossing the road. | Her husband, Jim, was standing outside their store when the man drove his car into the crowd of pedestrians crossing the road. |
| “All you could hear was bang, bang, bang, bang,” he told the ABC. “He seemed to be travelling at about 80-100km down Flinders Street in a westerly direction. The intersection was full of pedestrians and he ploughed through pedestrians. The only thing slowing him down was him hitting pedestrians. | “All you could hear was bang, bang, bang, bang,” he told the ABC. “He seemed to be travelling at about 80-100km down Flinders Street in a westerly direction. The intersection was full of pedestrians and he ploughed through pedestrians. The only thing slowing him down was him hitting pedestrians. |
| “There was no braking, there was no slowing down. He went straight through the intersection. So whether it was targeted, or whether he’s had a heart attack, or was drunk, I don’t know. | “There was no braking, there was no slowing down. He went straight through the intersection. So whether it was targeted, or whether he’s had a heart attack, or was drunk, I don’t know. |
| “He probably hit about 15 to 20 pedestrians. The car stopped because of just, I think, the amount of pedestrians that it had hit.” | “He probably hit about 15 to 20 pedestrians. The car stopped because of just, I think, the amount of pedestrians that it had hit.” |
| “This is the busiest corner in Melbourne. This and Swanston Street corner are the two busiest corners in Melbourne. It was packed. Our store was packed. Pedestrians crossing the road were completely packed. It was solid with people. We were very, very busy in the whole area. All you could hear was the sound of the car hitting people [and] the screams.” | “This is the busiest corner in Melbourne. This and Swanston Street corner are the two busiest corners in Melbourne. It was packed. Our store was packed. Pedestrians crossing the road were completely packed. It was solid with people. We were very, very busy in the whole area. All you could hear was the sound of the car hitting people [and] the screams.” |
| He described the vehicle as a white Suzuki Vitara. | He described the vehicle as a white Suzuki Vitara. |
| Police are currently attending an incident on Flinders Street between Elizabeth and Swanston streets where a vehicle has collided with a number of pedestrians. Police have arrested the driver of the car. Extent of injuries are not known at this stage. (1/2) | Police are currently attending an incident on Flinders Street between Elizabeth and Swanston streets where a vehicle has collided with a number of pedestrians. Police have arrested the driver of the car. Extent of injuries are not known at this stage. (1/2) |
| Eyewitnesses told Sky News that the vehicle did not brake before hitting pedestrians and described the vehicle as a white SUV. | Eyewitnesses told Sky News that the vehicle did not brake before hitting pedestrians and described the vehicle as a white SUV. |
| On radio station 3AW, a woman, Sue, who was working on a nearby restaurant on Elizabeth Street, said she heard screams before she saw “people flying everywhere”. | On radio station 3AW, a woman, Sue, who was working on a nearby restaurant on Elizabeth Street, said she heard screams before she saw “people flying everywhere”. |
| “We could hear this noise,” she said. “As we looked left, we saw this white car, it just mowed everybody down. | “We could hear this noise,” she said. “As we looked left, we saw this white car, it just mowed everybody down. |
| “People are flying everywhere. We heard thump, thump. People are running everywhere.” | “People are flying everywhere. We heard thump, thump. People are running everywhere.” |
| The vehicle ran a red light just after 4.30pm on Thursday, witnesses told 3AW. | The vehicle ran a red light just after 4.30pm on Thursday, witnesses told 3AW. |
| The incident brought parts of the city to a standstill. Ambulance, fire and police cordoned off an increasingly large area of the southern section of the Melbourne CBD. Flinders Street station was closed. | The incident brought parts of the city to a standstill. Ambulance, fire and police cordoned off an increasingly large area of the southern section of the Melbourne CBD. Flinders Street station was closed. |
| Aerial footage of the scene showed a white Suzuki SUV crashed into a tram stop. | Aerial footage of the scene showed a white Suzuki SUV crashed into a tram stop. |
| Another witness, David, told ABC radio: “I heard the engine rev and I heard the first thump and I turned around ... I just saw it [the vehicle] ploughing through pedestrians as everyone was crossing the road and then crashing into the tram stop.” | Another witness, David, told ABC radio: “I heard the engine rev and I heard the first thump and I turned around ... I just saw it [the vehicle] ploughing through pedestrians as everyone was crossing the road and then crashing into the tram stop.” |
| Police are continuing to urge Melburnians to avoid the area. The Swanston Street bridge is now closed to traffic. Train commuters have been urged to avoid Flinders Street station. | Police are continuing to urge Melburnians to avoid the area. The Swanston Street bridge is now closed to traffic. Train commuters have been urged to avoid Flinders Street station. |
| Victoria police have asked anybody with vision of the incident or its aftermath to upload that footage to its cloud. | Victoria police have asked anybody with vision of the incident or its aftermath to upload that footage to its cloud. |
| If members of the public have video or images which might assist police with their investigation into the Flinders Street incident they are encouraged to upload them here → https://t.co/oFfWkid509 pic.twitter.com/fzmX79HOv5 | If members of the public have video or images which might assist police with their investigation into the Flinders Street incident they are encouraged to upload them here → https://t.co/oFfWkid509 pic.twitter.com/fzmX79HOv5 |
| The incident has caused widespread traffic congestion. Flinders Street is closed between Swanston and Queen streets in both directions. Elizabeth Street is closed between Flinders and Bourke street. St Kilda Road is closed at the Yarra river. | The incident has caused widespread traffic congestion. Flinders Street is closed between Swanston and Queen streets in both directions. Elizabeth Street is closed between Flinders and Bourke street. St Kilda Road is closed at the Yarra river. |
| Chris Miller from VicRoads said Melburnians were being asked to defer travel around the CBD. | Chris Miller from VicRoads said Melburnians were being asked to defer travel around the CBD. |
| “If that is not possible, stay as far north as possible,” he said. | “If that is not possible, stay as far north as possible,” he said. |