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You can find the current article at its original source at https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/live/2018/nov/09/melbourne-bourke-street-police-incident-declared-after-car-in-flames
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| Melbourne Bourke Street incident: one dead, two injured after stabbing - live updates | Melbourne Bourke Street incident: one dead, two injured after stabbing - live updates |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| The attacker has died, police confirm. | |
| He was shot in the chest by police at the scene and died in hospital roughly half an hour after he arrived, said Graham Ashton, chief commissioner of police. | |
| Melbourne’s mayor, Sally Capp, says she hopes “we can pull together to support each other” in a message to the public. | |
| Thinking of Melburnians tonight. pic.twitter.com/NOfO54Rir4 | |
| Aakash Verma gave a statement to police after witnessing the incident unfold. | |
| He was working when he heard a bang. He went outside and said he saw a ute in flames rolling diagonally towards Target. Then he saw police pull up. “A guy came towards the cops as the cops were staying inside the car,” Verma said. “I’m not sure if he opened the door or if the cop opened the door.” | |
| Once the door of the car was open and while the police officer was still sitting down, the man began stabbing him with something sharp. | |
| Verma said it was a small object that may have been a knife, but he wasn’t sure. He also was not sure if the man made contact with the police officer, or if the police officer’s vest prevented him from being stabbed. | |
| The police officer’s partner got out from the other side of the vehicle and came around to intervene. | |
| “He [the man] backed off.” | |
| Both police attempted to use pepper spray and to taser the guy but it didn’t seem to have any effect, Verma said. | |
| “The person didn’t look like he wanted to run away, he wanted to stay and fight,” Verma said. “He was saying nothing. He had like a million chances to run away.” | |
| Premier Daniel Andrews will also be at the 8.30pm press conference later tonight. | |
| Victoria Police are holding another press conference at 8.30pm. | Victoria Police are holding another press conference at 8.30pm. |
| Chief Commissioner Graham Ashton will be holding a press conference at approximately 8:30pm tonight regarding today’s Bourke Street incident. The press conference will be live streamed via Facebook and Twitter. | Chief Commissioner Graham Ashton will be holding a press conference at approximately 8:30pm tonight regarding today’s Bourke Street incident. The press conference will be live streamed via Facebook and Twitter. |
| There are reports that the attacker has been identified, but we have not yet confirmed this. | There are reports that the attacker has been identified, but we have not yet confirmed this. |
| Stay with us to 8.30pm and we will bring you the latest from police. | Stay with us to 8.30pm and we will bring you the latest from police. |
| An update from Yarra Trams: | An update from Yarra Trams: |
| Diversions for Route 1, 6, 86 and 96 trams | Diversions for Route 1, 6, 86 and 96 trams |
| No Route 3, 5, 16, 64, 67 & 72 trams running between Stop 11 Collins St and Stop 8 Melbourne Central Station. | No Route 3, 5, 16, 64, 67 & 72 trams running between Stop 11 Collins St and Stop 8 Melbourne Central Station. |
| At West Melbourne police station several tables have been set up to interview the dozens of witnesses who were at the scene in a makeshift interview space. | At West Melbourne police station several tables have been set up to interview the dozens of witnesses who were at the scene in a makeshift interview space. |
| Police are guarding the station doors and directing people inside to give their statements. | Police are guarding the station doors and directing people inside to give their statements. |
| It looks like it will be a very long night for police and witnesses. | It looks like it will be a very long night for police and witnesses. |
| The lord mayor of Melbourne, Sally Capp, has praised police, emergency services and the community of Melbourne. | The lord mayor of Melbourne, Sally Capp, has praised police, emergency services and the community of Melbourne. |
| “Melburnians should be reassured by the rapid response from Victoria Police and emergency services who worked quickly, bravely and effectively to minimise harm to the public and contain the situation. | “Melburnians should be reassured by the rapid response from Victoria Police and emergency services who worked quickly, bravely and effectively to minimise harm to the public and contain the situation. |
| “I’m proud of the way our community responded respectfully to police instructions at the scene. I know many of us will feel the impact of these terrible events and it’s important at these times that we pull together as a community and support one another.” | “I’m proud of the way our community responded respectfully to police instructions at the scene. I know many of us will feel the impact of these terrible events and it’s important at these times that we pull together as a community and support one another.” |
| I’m proud of the way our community responded respectfully to police instructions at the scene. I know many of us will feel the impact of these terrible events and it’s important at these times that we pull together as a community and support one another. (3/3) | I’m proud of the way our community responded respectfully to police instructions at the scene. I know many of us will feel the impact of these terrible events and it’s important at these times that we pull together as a community and support one another. (3/3) |
| Here is a map of the current road closures in the Melbourne CBD. | Here is a map of the current road closures in the Melbourne CBD. |
| Bourke Street in Melbourne CBD remains closed following an incident.Closures have been set up with no access from Swanston St to Exhibition St. Russell St remains open to traffic. Trams not operating on Swanston or Bourke St around closure. Updates at @VicTraffic pic.twitter.com/YQahS9Z0kh | Bourke Street in Melbourne CBD remains closed following an incident.Closures have been set up with no access from Swanston St to Exhibition St. Russell St remains open to traffic. Trams not operating on Swanston or Bourke St around closure. Updates at @VicTraffic pic.twitter.com/YQahS9Z0kh |
| Premier Daniel Andrews has also thanked police. | Premier Daniel Andrews has also thanked police. |
| Thank you to the @VictoriaPolice officers who responded so bravely, and the every day Victorians who came to the aid of complete strangers. Please continue to avoid the area. Anyone with information should attend Melbourne West Police Station to make a statement. | Thank you to the @VictoriaPolice officers who responded so bravely, and the every day Victorians who came to the aid of complete strangers. Please continue to avoid the area. Anyone with information should attend Melbourne West Police Station to make a statement. |
| The ABC reports witnesses saw the man throw some kind of object into the car that set it alight. | The ABC reports witnesses saw the man throw some kind of object into the car that set it alight. |
| In a live cross during the 7pm news bulletin, the ABC’s reporter Ben Knight said witnesses saw the man crash the car, get out and throw the object into the car. | In a live cross during the 7pm news bulletin, the ABC’s reporter Ben Knight said witnesses saw the man crash the car, get out and throw the object into the car. |
| We have now published some footage of the incident today. It shows the car on fire, the man fighting with police, and the suspect being arrested. | We have now published some footage of the incident today. It shows the car on fire, the man fighting with police, and the suspect being arrested. |
| Warning: Some viewers may find the footage distressing. | Warning: Some viewers may find the footage distressing. |
| The Victorian opposition leader, Matthew Guy, has offered his thanks to police. | The Victorian opposition leader, Matthew Guy, has offered his thanks to police. |
| Please stay clear of the CBD until authorities conclude their investigations. Today, more than ever, we offer our thanks to Police and first responders for the unbelievable work they do for all of us. | Please stay clear of the CBD until authorities conclude their investigations. Today, more than ever, we offer our thanks to Police and first responders for the unbelievable work they do for all of us. |
| Will Mitchell said he was getting a haircut across the mall from Target when people began running past screaming. | Will Mitchell said he was getting a haircut across the mall from Target when people began running past screaming. |
| “The hairdresser goes run, run, run, run and they run out of the shop and close the shop,” he said. “I went out to see what happened and there was a car on fire. | “The hairdresser goes run, run, run, run and they run out of the shop and close the shop,” he said. “I went out to see what happened and there was a car on fire. |
| “I was across the road and the car was on the opposite side of the road next to Target. I was just across the road, where the Starbucks coffee shop was, and I felt the heat from the car. All I saw was commotion and people running everywhere. Then I just stayed around and the police cordoned off the area.” | “I was across the road and the car was on the opposite side of the road next to Target. I was just across the road, where the Starbucks coffee shop was, and I felt the heat from the car. All I saw was commotion and people running everywhere. Then I just stayed around and the police cordoned off the area.” |
| Members of the public are being urged to upload any video of the attack to Victoria Police. | Members of the public are being urged to upload any video of the attack to Victoria Police. |
| If members of the public have images or video footage that may assist police with their investigation into the Bourke Street incident that occurred just after 4pm today, they are encouraged to upload them here → https://t.co/swUcgLVz23 pic.twitter.com/XD2ST6y6aT | If members of the public have images or video footage that may assist police with their investigation into the Bourke Street incident that occurred just after 4pm today, they are encouraged to upload them here → https://t.co/swUcgLVz23 pic.twitter.com/XD2ST6y6aT |
| Here is Calla Wahlquist’s report on today’s attack. | Here is Calla Wahlquist’s report on today’s attack. |
| Bourke Street has been closed by Vic Roads, for an indefinite period. | Bourke Street has been closed by Vic Roads, for an indefinite period. |
| There is no access to Bourke St from Swanston St or Exhibition St. Russell St remains open to traffic. Bourke St will be re-opened when police investigations are complete. | There is no access to Bourke St from Swanston St or Exhibition St. Russell St remains open to traffic. Bourke St will be re-opened when police investigations are complete. |
| People have been told to avoid the CBD tonight if they can. | People have been told to avoid the CBD tonight if they can. |
| 6.15pm #BourkeSt @naamanzhou pic.twitter.com/09PyxmUZyV | 6.15pm #BourkeSt @naamanzhou pic.twitter.com/09PyxmUZyV |
| Clayton also shared more details of how the attack was subdued. | 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. | “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. | “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.” | “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. | 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 | 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. | 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. | “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”. | “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. | 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”. | 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 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.” | He did not take any questions as it was “very early in the stage of the investigation.” |