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Melbourne police call Flinders Street crash 'a deliberate act' – live Melbourne crash: police call Flinders Street car incident 'a deliberate act' – live
(35 minutes later)
Prime minister Malcolm Turnbull has issues a brief statement on twitter about the incident. The incident comes one day after Victorian premier Daniel Andrews announced plans for a public memorial of the Bourke Street tragedy, which occurred on 20 January, 2017.
Six people were killed and 27 injured when a car ran into pedestrians in Melbourne’s Bourke Street mall, which is three blocks up from the intersection on Flinders Street, where the incident occurred this afternoon.
Melbourne man Dimitrious Gargasoulas, 27, has pleaded not guilty to six counts of murder.
There is no suggestion of a connection between the two incidents. As previously reported, police have said it is too early in their investigations to comment on the motivations of the driver in this afternoon’s incident.
Christmas event cancelled:
Following the distressing event that occurred on Flinders Street, we’ve cancelled tonight’s Christmas Projections across all sites in the city and Docklands. Our thoughts go out to everyone who was impacted.
This is the scene looking back along Flinders Street to Swanston Street. The white SUV that went through the intersection came to rest when it hit the concrete barrier of the tram stop.
Police have made a number of requests for any videos or photos that people may have of the incident. They can be submitted here, the link is also in the below tweet.
If members of the public have video footage or images, which may assist police with their investigation regarding the Flinders Street incident that took place this afternoon, they are encouraged to upload them here: https://t.co/oFfWkid509 pic.twitter.com/HlHsvPQFL4
The City of Melbourne has rereleased that statement, which was posted then deleted by deputy mayor Arron Wood earlier.
Statement from the City of Melbourne pic.twitter.com/E0PKsWtaGh
New Zealand’s prime minister Jacinda Ardern has also offered her support.
My thoughts are with Australia and the people of Melbourne- such a shocking incident this afternoon. Thinking of all the victims and their families.
Prime minister Malcolm Turnbull has issued a brief statement on twitter about the incident.
As our federal & state police & security agencies work together to secure the scene and investigate this shocking incident our thoughts & prayers are with the victims & the emergency & health workers who are treating them. https://t.co/JkUM9TuIQeAs our federal & state police & security agencies work together to secure the scene and investigate this shocking incident our thoughts & prayers are with the victims & the emergency & health workers who are treating them. https://t.co/JkUM9TuIQe
The Herald Sun’s Rob Harris reported earlier that the incident had not yet been elevated to the National Security Committee because the motives of the driver remained unclear.The Herald Sun’s Rob Harris reported earlier that the incident had not yet been elevated to the National Security Committee because the motives of the driver remained unclear.
Melbourne incident remains a state investigation. PM has been updated on events but situation has not yet to be elevated to National Security Committee. Source say motives remain unclear.Melbourne incident remains a state investigation. PM has been updated on events but situation has not yet to be elevated to National Security Committee. Source say motives remain unclear.
Police have been progressively pushing back their cordon to allow investigators clear access to the scene.Police have been progressively pushing back their cordon to allow investigators clear access to the scene.
Traffic along Flinders Street has been blocked from Queens Bridge, on Market Street, to Swanston Street. The police cordon has been pushed back several hundred metres from the Elizabeth Street intersection, to Queen Street in the east and Swanston Street in the west.Traffic along Flinders Street has been blocked from Queens Bridge, on Market Street, to Swanston Street. The police cordon has been pushed back several hundred metres from the Elizabeth Street intersection, to Queen Street in the east and Swanston Street in the west.
This was the scene on Flinders Street shortly after the incident.This was the scene on Flinders Street shortly after the incident.
Police are yet to give a clear indication of the motivation for the crash, but we are starting to get a clear indication of how it occurred.Police are yet to give a clear indication of the motivation for the crash, but we are starting to get a clear indication of how it occurred.
The white SUV ran through the intersection on Flinders and Elizabeth Streets in Melbourne around 4.45pm.The white SUV ran through the intersection on Flinders and Elizabeth Streets in Melbourne around 4.45pm.
According to various eyewitness reports, it reached pedestrians about six or seven seconds after pedestrians were given the green light to cross the road.According to various eyewitness reports, it reached pedestrians about six or seven seconds after pedestrians were given the green light to cross the road.
It came from the Swanston Street end of Flinders Street and hit a number of pedestrians before striking the concrete barrier of the tram stop on Flinders Street just past the Elizabeth Street intersection.It came from the Swanston Street end of Flinders Street and hit a number of pedestrians before striking the concrete barrier of the tram stop on Flinders Street just past the Elizabeth Street intersection.
That intersection is one of the busiest in Melbourne and is multi-directional, meaning that when the pedestrian lights go, people cross on the diagonal and swarm the road. Witnesses say between 40 and 60 people where in the interaction when the SUV went through.That intersection is one of the busiest in Melbourne and is multi-directional, meaning that when the pedestrian lights go, people cross on the diagonal and swarm the road. Witnesses say between 40 and 60 people where in the interaction when the SUV went through.
One witness told the ABC that a number of bystanders responded quickly to assist those who had been injured, and one immediately approached the driver’s side of the car. The suggestion is they attempted to detain them.One witness told the ABC that a number of bystanders responded quickly to assist those who had been injured, and one immediately approached the driver’s side of the car. The suggestion is they attempted to detain them.
Police arrived within minutes.Police arrived within minutes.
The male driver was arrested very quickly by police, and a second man, who was also alleged to have been in the car, has also been arrested.The male driver was arrested very quickly by police, and a second man, who was also alleged to have been in the car, has also been arrested.
Fourteen people have been injured and taken to various hospitals around the city. Police have said a number of those injuries are critical. One of those injured is a young child, who it has been reported had head injuries.Fourteen people have been injured and taken to various hospitals around the city. Police have said a number of those injuries are critical. One of those injured is a young child, who it has been reported had head injuries.
Police say have said the crash was a “deliberate act” but it is too early to know what motivated it.Police say have said the crash was a “deliberate act” but it is too early to know what motivated it.
A Nine News journalist, Brett Mcleod, has tweeted what he describes as an image of a man being dragged from the white vehicle.
Image of police dragging man from 4WD which ploughed into pedestrians in Flinders St. pic.twitter.com/ANBoKjnABR
Melbourne deputy mayor Arron Wood, who is currently acting Lord Mayor as Robert Doyle has stood aside, just released the following statement:
There has been an awful incident in the CBD this evening.
At this stage, the details of this incident are not fully known.
What is known is this: A vehicle has struck and injured at least 13 pedestrians at the corner of Elizabeth and Flinders streets. Victoria Police have arrested two men. Our emergency serves, including Victoria Police, have control of this situation. We have every confidence in them to protect Melbourne in such horrific circumstances.
We have the best advice available to us and we will continue to work with the state government and Victoria Police to keep people safe.
At this time our thoughts are with those most affected and of course we will provide immediate and long-term support to them.
The tweet containing that statement appears to have been deleted, but I’m sure the sentiment remains.
Earlier, premier Daniel Andrews asked people to avoid the area.
As you will know, there's been a horrible incident on Flinders St. Police have secured the scene and will provide info as it's confirmed. Please avoid the area. Trains running but trams affected. Stay safe. Check on your loved ones. And thank you to our brave emergency services.
Victorian opposition leader Matthew Guy offered his support:
Horrendous scenes in the city. My thoughts are with all involved as it unfolds. Increadible job being done by our emergency services.
I’m going to leave you now with our reporter in Melbourne, Calla Wahlquist, who will keep you abreast of developments as they emerge.
A few more details from that brief police press conference:
Fourteen people have been injured, several are in critical conditions
Police believe this was a deliberate act, but the motivations are unknown
The two men have not yet been charged. They remain in police custody
Police repeated their plea for people to avoid the area. They will be on scene for an extended period.
Police will continue to have a strong presence in Melbourne’s CBD tonight. People may have items and vehicles within the crime scene. At this stage they will not able to be received until the crime scene is reopened.
Police are speaking to the media now. They have described the incident as a “deliberate act”, but they say the motivations are still unknown. They’ve said it’s too early to say.
Asked whether they can rule out a terror attack, police said:
At this stage it’s early days in the investigation and the motivation is unknown.
Flinders Street is still cordoned off from Queen, where police are about to hold a press conference @knausc pic.twitter.com/EF9xQvDi1Z
Rose Stoupas owns Walker’s Doughnuts on the corner of Flinders and Elizabeth streets.
She told The Guardian: “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 offender’s car is still there, but pedestrians have been cleared mostly from the area. It’s a shitty, shitty day.”
Her husband John, 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, estimating the car was travelling at 80km an hour.
“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.”
“All you could hear was bang, bang, bang, bang,” a witness who watched the incident from Flinders Street said, estimating the car was travelling at about 80km an hour.
“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.”