More than a dozen people have been hospitalised, several in a critical condition, after a car ploughed into pedestrians in Melbourne’s city centre in what police say was a “deliberate” act.
Paramedics were called to the emergency at Flinders and Elizabeth Streets at 4:41 p.m. today.
The driver of the car and a second man have been arrested and are in custody, police said in a statement issued just after 6 p.m. Charges have not been laid.
Fourteen people were injured and “several” were in a critical condition, Victoria Police north-west metro commander Russell Barrett told reporters.
“We believe, based on what we’ve seen, it is a deliberate act,” Barrett said. When asked whether “terror” was a factor Barrett responded that “the motivation is unknown.”
Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull condemned the “shocking incident,” saying in a statement that his “thoughts and prayers are with the victims and the emergency and health workers who are treating them.”
The premier of Victoria, Daniel Andrews, asked people to avoid the area after the “horrible” incident. “Stay safe. Check on your loved ones. And thank you to our brave emergency services,” Andrews said.
A pre-school-aged child with a head injury has been taken to the Royal Children’s Hospital in a serious condition, ABC News reported.Three people have been taken to the Alfred Hospital, and three to the Royal Melbourne Hospital, local news agencies also reported.
A crime scene has been established, and detectives from the Crime Command are leading the investigation, Victoria Police said in a statement.
A witness, who identified himself as John, told the ABC that he saw the SUV traveling “at high speed” and “hitting people.”
“I saw a car, a SUV coming at high speed and really just heard the collision with people with bags and what must be shopping trolleys — and I hope not prams,” he told ABC Radio Melbourne. “I’ve really never seen anything like this before and I haven’t stopped shaking.”
Witness Sue Nicolaidis told the Herald Sun she was working at Walker’s Doughnuts when she heard a loud noise and a car screeching down Flinders Street.
“We heard this noise and we looked up then we just heard bang, bang, bang, and people flying everywhere,” Nicolaidis said. “There was just people on the ground, not moving, people screaming, it is just like a nightmare.”
Another witness, speaking to The Age, said there was “blood everywhere” when she arrived at Flinders Street, shortly after the incident.
Public transportation in the area is disrupted, and police continue to advise people to avoid the area. Police and emergency responders will remain on the scene for the “foreseeable future,” a police spokesperson said.
Commuters have been instructed to head to Melbourne Central Station. Yarra Trams cancelled services to the area, as per a request from emergency services, although some services have resumed with significant delays Metro Trains tweeted.
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Gina Rushton is a breaking news reporter for BuzzFeed News and is based in Sydney.
Contact Gina Rushton at gina.rushton@buzzfeed.com.
Rose Troup Buchanan is a reporter for BuzzFeed News and is based in London.
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