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Melbourne Bourke Street incident: several stabbed and man arrested - live updates Melbourne Bourke Street incident: one dead, two injured after stabbing - live updates
(35 minutes later)
Clayton also shared more details of how the attack was subdued.
“Nearby police quickly responded to the incident [of a car on fire in Bourke Street],” he said.
“As they got out of the car they were confronted by a male brandishing a knife and threatening them. At the same time, passersby were calling out that members of the public had been stabbed.
“Police shot the male in the chest and he is now in a critical condition under guard in hospital.”
You can watch the full press conference below.
We’re live with Superintendent David Clayton following an incident on Bourke St in the CBD this afternoon. https://t.co/OkzIPBVb3m
Police have said there are no known links to terrorism at this time.
“The investigation is ongoing, we are keeping an open mind,” Superintendent David Clayton said.
“There are no known links to terrorism at this stage. We are keeping an open mind”.
He added that police were not looking for any other attackers at this stage.
The bomb response unit have cordoned off the area around the mall, and are “now making the scene safe”.
He said any witnesses or those with information should go to Melbourne West Police Station to make a statement.
He did not take any questions as it was “very early in the stage of the investigation.”
Victoria Police confirm that one person has died at the scene.
Two others are currently in hospital, Superintendent David Clayton said in a press conference.
Police confirmed that they shot the suspected attacker in the chest. He is in a critical condition under guard in hospital.
It’s so eerie. The onlookers have been cleared away and only media and police allowed to remain.
The loudspeakers in the city for mass incidents are being used and a warning message to avoid the area is blaring through the streets which are empty except for emergency cars, police and a media scrum.
We are waiting for a press conference to begin. It’s starting to drizzle with rain.
Pictures from the incident, taken by press photographers, appear to show an injured man lying underneath a white sheet.
The severity of his injuries have not been confirmed.
We are still waiting on the police press conference.
Media are standing by for the press conference, which has not yet begun.
Four people have been injured, including the attacker, after a man crashed a car into Melbourne’s Bourke Street Mall and attempted to stab people.
The man was arrested by police and taken to hospital in a critical condition.
Witnesses say he drove a ute into the Target centre at around 4.20pm. As the car went up in flames he attempted to stab people and fought with police and bystanders.
One person has been taken to hospital with a neck injury in a suspected critical condition. Two others were also injured, but their condition is not yet known.
The suspected attacker was arrested at the scene and is under police guard in hospital. Police say they are not looking for anyone else at this stage.
People have been urged to stay away from Bourke St, Swanston St and the Melbourne CBD.
The ABC have spoken to witness Meegan May:The ABC have spoken to witness Meegan May:
“A couple of people on the trams were saying someone had a knife and when I got up and looked through the rear window. I could see a big ute on fire driving across the road,” she said. “A couple of people on the trams were saying someone had a knife and when I got up and looked through the rear window, I could see a big ute on fire driving across the road,” she said.
“It sort of came to a stop on the other side, and then I could see a man and two police sort of trying to calm him down. He was waving his arms around, someone was saying he had a knife - I couldn’t tell from where I was.“It sort of came to a stop on the other side, and then I could see a man and two police sort of trying to calm him down. He was waving his arms around, someone was saying he had a knife - I couldn’t tell from where I was.
“And then not too long after that, I heard a loud bang that sounded a bit like a gunshot, nothing like an explosion, and then a person near me said they could see someone giving someone chest expressions and an ambulance and 50 cop cars came out of nowhere not long after that.” “And then not too long after that, I heard a loud bang that sounded a bit like a gunshot, nothing like an explosion, and then a person near me said they could see someone giving someone chest compressions, and an ambulance and 50 cop cars came out of nowhere not long after that.”
Victoria Police will give a press conference at 5.45pm.Victoria Police will give a press conference at 5.45pm.
I‘ve just spoken with Neil McKellar, who works in Hylands Bookshop on Bourke Street close to the scene.I‘ve just spoken with Neil McKellar, who works in Hylands Bookshop on Bourke Street close to the scene.
McKellar spoke of hearing a loud explosion and then gunshots. He’s just left his building and walked along Little Bourke Street nearby. He said the scene was restricted and police and emergency services were there in force.McKellar spoke of hearing a loud explosion and then gunshots. He’s just left his building and walked along Little Bourke Street nearby. He said the scene was restricted and police and emergency services were there in force.
The scene seemed to be under control.The scene seemed to be under control.
“We heard the explosion, and we heard gunshots later,” McKellar said. “We’re in an ex-cinema in Bourke Street. We heard it but we didn’t know what it was.”“We heard the explosion, and we heard gunshots later,” McKellar said. “We’re in an ex-cinema in Bourke Street. We heard it but we didn’t know what it was.”
Footage from the incident shows a man using a trolley to subdue the attacker. A warning that the footage contains the audio of a gunshot at the end.Footage from the incident shows a man using a trolley to subdue the attacker. A warning that the footage contains the audio of a gunshot at the end.
@abcmelbourne #bourkest source from wechat pic.twitter.com/PiHjr6UzJ1@abcmelbourne #bourkest source from wechat pic.twitter.com/PiHjr6UzJ1
The man, whose identity is unclear, is being dubbed “Trolley Man” by some.The man, whose identity is unclear, is being dubbed “Trolley Man” by some.
Other footage, sourced from the Chinese language social media app WeChat, shows the suspected attacker lying on the ground being handcuffed by police.Other footage, sourced from the Chinese language social media app WeChat, shows the suspected attacker lying on the ground being handcuffed by police.
Meanwhile, police are expanding their lines.Meanwhile, police are expanding their lines.
Police are rapidly moving people away from Swanston St. Extending the police lines #BourkeStPolice are rapidly moving people away from Swanston St. Extending the police lines #BourkeSt
Alert system in affect also if someone can meet me at corner of Bourke and Swanston with a portable charger I’ll cry with happiness @naamanzhou pic.twitter.com/ewr72IndzPAlert system in affect also if someone can meet me at corner of Bourke and Swanston with a portable charger I’ll cry with happiness @naamanzhou pic.twitter.com/ewr72IndzP
Vic Roads have urged people to avoid the area – especially Swanston Street and Bourke Street.Vic Roads have urged people to avoid the area – especially Swanston Street and Bourke Street.
People should also take care on Russell Street, Little Collins Street and Elizabeth Street and Little Bourke Street.People should also take care on Russell Street, Little Collins Street and Elizabeth Street and Little Bourke Street.
Trams are not running on Swanston or Bourke Streets in any direction.Trams are not running on Swanston or Bourke Streets in any direction.
Another worker at a nearby burger shop, who did not want to be named, told Guardian Australia they had little idea what had happened.
“We just heard these blasts and a car was on fire,” he said. “And then we saw police coming up to our shop.”
“They just came and put the police line thing, you know. We asked them what happened, and they said they couldn’t say. They’re not letting anyone come near the place.”
Ambulance Victoria say three people are injured, one in a confirmed critical condition.
Statement below:
Paramedics have assessed three people at the scene.
One person has been taken to hospital with a neck injury. They are in a suspected critical condition.
A second person has been taken to hospital with a head injury. Condition not yet known.
A third person has also been taken to hospital. Condition and injuries are not yet known.
Genders and age of patients are not yet known.
I’m told surrounding buildings are still in lockdown. Staff can’t leave and no-one can enter the area. The intersection lies within a busy shopping mall, so hundreds of tourists and onlookers have gathered. There are dozens of police cars, choppers overhead.
Fire crews are at the scene and the ute fire has been extinguished. Crowds have gathered watching it all unfold behind police lines #BourkeSt @naamanzhou pic.twitter.com/QgRTQipHRP
Victoria Police confirm a man has been arrested and people are being treated for stab wounds.
The arrested man is in a critical condition.
Full statement below:
Police are currently at an incident on Bourke Street in the CBD. Police initially responded to a report of a car on fire near the corner of Swanston Street about 4.20pm.
A man was arrested at the scene and has been taken to hospital under police guard in a critical condition. Police are not looking for anyone further at this early stage.
A small number of people are being treated for stab wounds.
The exact circumstances are yet to be determined at this stage. The area has been cordoned off and the public are urged to avoid the area.
Anyone with information or who witnessed the incident is asked to go to Melbourne West Police Station to make a statement.
Footage from the scene appears to show a man fighting with two police officers, before falling over.
The man can be seen attempting to stab at the officers, as two members of the public help to subdue him. No casualties can be seen in the immediate vicinity.
A reminder that we will not be linking to or broadcasting footage that has not been confirmed.
A man working with City of Melbourne council told Guardian Australia he was in his office building across the street and on the phone when he heard a loud bang.
It was “not the normal sort of bang you hear on the street”, he said. He is currently locked in the building and all staff have been accounted for.
“This was virtually opposite where the Target centre is. At about 4.20pm i heard a bang – a very solid bang and because I was on the phone I couldn’t see straight away what happened.”
He said he looked outside and saw a ute parked just under Target.
We’ve heard a report of a person possibly with severe injuries, but this has not been confirmed.
Trams to the street and traffic has been halted.
Witnesses working in Bourke Street mall have told Guardian Australia they heard a single “loud explosion” and witnessed a large fire.
“Yeah, we heard a massive boom and then it stopped,” one woman said.
She said there were large numbers of police in attendance.
Other nearby workers reported hearing an announcement that Bourke Street mall was being shut, but were unaware of why.
The Victorian premier, Daniel Andrews, has asked the public to stay away.
There's been an incident in the CBD near Bourke St. Details are still unclear – but please avoid the area and always follow the instructions of emergency services personnel. Official updates will be provided by @VictoriaPolice.
Early reports say a car is on fire in Melbourne’s Bourke Street Mall.
Pictures, below, have emerged of the car, and smoke billowing up.
A large crowd on the usually busy street are being held back by police.
There is no confirmed information yet on whether this was deliberate or accidental, or on what caused the fire.
Witnesses are describing hearing a loud bang and a car on fire in the Bourke St Mall.MFB says a car is on fire.📷@meegslouise pic.twitter.com/3Qz3iUnKKr
Major police incident in Bourke St underway. Street closed. #7NewsMelb. pic.twitter.com/80fchJD43R
Significant fire in Bourke Street - road blocked between Swanston and Russell Streets pic.twitter.com/H6xO1pzy5L
A major incident has occurred in Melbourne on Bourke Street, where a car was seen in flames.
Police have been called and attended the scene. Members of the public are urged to stay away.
No official details have been released, but stay with this liveblog as news becomes available.
Police are responding to an incident on Bourke Street. Members of the public are asked to avoid the area. More information will be provided when it comes to hand.