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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: police confirm assailant dead after 'terror' attack - live updates | |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| Bill Shorten has also praised Victoria Police and the passersby who helped. | |
| Once again Victorians are in awe of our extraordinary police officers, who responded so swiftly, bravely and professionally in the Melbourne CBD this afternoon, and the passers-by whose first instinct was to go to the aid of others. | |
| A few more details from that press conference. | |
| Police said the man had a minor offending history of drug, theft and driving offences, lived in the north-western suburbs of Melbourne, and came to Australia from Somalia in the 1990s. | |
| Commissioner Ashton said there was “a lot more work” to be done at the crime scene, and that Bourke Street would likely remain locked off “for as late as 9am tomorrow”. | |
| He also shared a detailed sequence of events of what happened today. | |
| “A four wheel drive, utility, drove into Bourke St between Russell St and Swanston St and parked there. One male person was in the vehicle. A fire was then started in that vehicle. | |
| “He got out of the vehicle, engaged with some members of the public at that location. Almost within a minute, Victorian Police officers were in attendance in an unmarked vehicle. | |
| “He assaulted one of the police offices through the vehicle window by punching him. At that time other police were starting to arrive. He at that time produced a knife and attempted to attack the police officers. One of the officers fired his firearm and shot the offender once in the chest.” | |
| The man was taken to hospital and died half an hour after he arrived. | |
| The premier, Daniel Andrews, has also spoken. He offered condolences to all affected and said “we will not be defined by this.” | |
| Andrews thanked police for their “very quick response” and said “they have done each and every one of us proud”. | |
| “Stranger and bystanders, who knew nobody involved, stepped in without a moment’s hesitation...they too are people whose qualities make us all proud as well. | |
| “We extend our thoughts and prayers to all who are injured and extend our deepest, deepest sympathies.” | |
| He said people should contact Lifeline, Griefline and Beyond Blue if they had been affected. | |
| “These are traumatic events, they are terrifying,” the premier said. “Many will have seen them first hand.” | |
| Two victims are still in hospital, but their injuries are not believed to be life-threatening. | |
| Ashton told reporters that all three victims, including one who died, were men. | |
| Two remain in hospital, and Ashton said he had not received a more recent update before his press conference. But he said it was believed the injuries were not threatening. | |
| He said he would not identify any of the victims until families had been notified. | |
| The attacker had “barbecue-style gas cylinders” inside the car, police have said. | |
| But commissioner Ashton denied that the attacker had yelled “Allahu Ackbar”, as reported by some on social media. | |
| Ashton provided further details of the attack, and responded to questions from reporters. | |
| “Fire and rescue discovered barbecue-style gas cylinders inside the vehicle,” he said. | |
| The man had family associations to people known to counter-terrorism, and was also himself known to count-terrorism. | |
| But Ashton denied claims that the man had yelled “Allahu Akbar” during the attack, and had attempted to decapitate one of his victims. | |
| He confirmed one victim suffered “significant head injuries... but the information I have did not include any attempt at decapitation”. | |
| “At this stage the information is he didn’t do that [say Allahu Akbar]. I have seen it on social media but have no confirmation at this stage.” | |
| Victoria Police have confirmed that today’s attack is being treated as a terrorist incident. | |
| Chief commissioner Ashton said the attacker was known to police and federal intelligence agencies. | |
| “What we know so far about the individual...from what we know we are treating this as a terrorism incident,” he said. | |
| “We believe we have confirmation on the identity [and] there are ongoing investgations being conducted by counter-terrorism. I am not at liberty to disclose the identity of this person” | |
| “He is known to police, mainly in respect to relatives that he has that are persons of interest to us. He is someone who is accordingly known to Victoria Police and the federal intelligence authorities” | |
| He said there was no ongoing threat and would not share any further details of the attacker’s identity and motive. | |
| The attacker has died, police confirm. | 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. | 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. | 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 | Thinking of Melburnians tonight. pic.twitter.com/NOfO54Rir4 |
| Aakash Verma gave a statement to police after witnessing the incident unfold. | 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.” | 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. | 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. | 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. | The police officer’s partner got out from the other side of the vehicle and came around to intervene. |
| “He [the man] backed off.” | “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. | 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.” | “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. | 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) |