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Melbourne stabbing rampage: three people dead, including man shot by police Melbourne stabbing rampage: three people dead, including man shot by police
(32 minutes later)
Several streets in Hawthorn and Kew closed off after ‘random act of senseless violence’ police believe is not terror-relatedSeveral streets in Hawthorn and Kew closed off after ‘random act of senseless violence’ police believe is not terror-related
Three people are dead, including a man shot by police, after a stabbing rampage through Melbourne’s inner east.Three people are dead, including a man shot by police, after a stabbing rampage through Melbourne’s inner east.
Police say the “random act of senseless violence” appears to have started about 10.40pm on Wednesday.Police say the “random act of senseless violence” appears to have started about 10.40pm on Wednesday.
A protective services officer at Jolimont train station, near the Melbourne Cricket Ground, was approached by a stranger and stabbed. He received non-life threatening cuts to his face. A protective services officer at Jolimont train station, near the Melbourne Cricket Ground, was approached by a stranger and stabbed in the arm and cheek with a kitchen knife. He received non-life threatening cuts to his face.
Police say the attacker then got on a train and soon after, two women were found in a car at Coppin Grove in Hawthorn about 11.20pm with life-threatening stab wounds. Police said it appeared the women had just arrived home and were getting out of their car.Police say the attacker then got on a train and soon after, two women were found in a car at Coppin Grove in Hawthorn about 11.20pm with life-threatening stab wounds. Police said it appeared the women had just arrived home and were getting out of their car.
One woman died and the other is in hospital in a critical condition. One 30-year-old woman died and the other, a 31-year-old woman, is in the Alfred hospital in a critical condition.
Police were then called to reports of a man stabbed near a tram stop in Kew about 12.15am on Thursday.Police were then called to reports of a man stabbed near a tram stop in Kew about 12.15am on Thursday.
That man, reported to be in his 50s, died in hospital, while a second man was spotted by police a few hundred metres away, in Walton Street. That man, who was 59-years-old , died in hospital, while a second man was spotted by police a few hundred metres away, in Walton Street.
The second man, aged in his 30s, was shot dead by police, who said they fired their weapons while trying to arrest him. The second man, since identified as a 34-year-old man from Roxburgh Park, was shot dead by police, who said they fired their weapons while trying to arrest him.
On Thursday morning several streets in Hawthorn and Kew remained closed off, with screens in place to hide the crime scenes, and city-bound trains were not stopping at Jolimont train station on Thursday morning.On Thursday morning several streets in Hawthorn and Kew remained closed off, with screens in place to hide the crime scenes, and city-bound trains were not stopping at Jolimont train station on Thursday morning.
Police said it did not appear that the victims were known to the man, and they were working to establish a link between the three incidents.Police said it did not appear that the victims were known to the man, and they were working to establish a link between the three incidents.
“There is nothing to suggest at this stage this is nothing less than a random act of senseless violence,” assistant commissioner Glenn Weir told reporters at the scene.“There is nothing to suggest at this stage this is nothing less than a random act of senseless violence,” assistant commissioner Glenn Weir told reporters at the scene.
Weir said it was “very traumatic … a terrible event”.Weir said it was “very traumatic … a terrible event”.
Investigators were now trying to piece together what happened between the attacks.Investigators were now trying to piece together what happened between the attacks.
Weir told 3AW radio at this stage there was “zero evidence” to indicate it is a terror-related event.Weir told 3AW radio at this stage there was “zero evidence” to indicate it is a terror-related event.
“This is a terrible event, this is something that’s just shocking,” he said.“This is a terrible event, this is something that’s just shocking,” he said.
Roads at Kew and Jolimont station remained closed.Roads at Kew and Jolimont station remained closed.
Police are not searching for anyone else and the community is not at risk.Police are not searching for anyone else and the community is not at risk.
The shooting by a police officer is being investigated by professional standards command and the deaths will be investigated by the coroner.The shooting by a police officer is being investigated by professional standards command and the deaths will be investigated by the coroner.