A screengrab from a Youtube video shows the car that drove into a crowd in Melbourne.
At least three people were killed and several others wounded when a man drove a car into a crowd of pedestrians in Melbourne, Australia, ABC reports.
Gunshots were also fired during the incident, The Age reports.
The incident occurred Friday in the CBD area of Melbourne near a crowded shopping area on Bourke Street, police said.
It is not clear if the driver was shot by police before he was taken into custody. A motive for the incident hasn’t been released, but police say it is not terror-related.
Driver was connected to an earlier stabbing.Homicide squad here. Police have stressed this is not being treated as terrorism. @theheraldsun
The exact circumstances surrounding the incident are yet to be determined and we will provide further information when it comes to hand.
According to police, the situation has been contained. The scene was described as “chaotic” by witnesses.
Update: Police request that people avoid the area. The situation is now contained.
Victoria Police spokesman Stuart Bateson provided details about the incident to reporters, according to ABC:
A male deliberately drove into pedestrians in the Bourke Street mall, and we currently have three deceased and at least 20 injuries.
I can confirm that we believe this is connected to an earlier stabbing in the southern metro region.
We have the offender in custody. There is no further threat to the public at this stage.
I can also confirm that this is not a CT-related incident.
The CT referenced above is “counter terrorism.”
The stabbing related to the incident occurred about 12 hours before the car drove toward pedestrians at about 1:30 p.m. local time, The Herald Sun reports.
A video posted to Youtube shows a red car driving in circles before heading toward the crowd of pedestrians on a street closed to traffic. You can watch the video below:
In another video, terrifying clip recorded by surveillance cameras inside a store, people can be seen running from the car as it drives on the sidewalk toward them, with some pedestrians ducking into the store at the last moment:
Car rams into pedestrians in #Melbourne #cbd
Another video shows the aftermath of the incident:
Breaking #melbourne, a car rushed in the crowd of shoppers in #bourkestreet, hitting pedestrian. Police is circling the area
Witnesses told reporters the driver was screaming at people before the crash:
“There was a man hanging out of the window screaming” – teen describes driver as thin, dark hair, appeared Middle Eastern. @theheraldsun
Photo and videos from the scene appear to show the suspect receiving treatment while surrounded by police:
You can see other photos from the scene below:
(Darrian Traynor/Getty)
(Darrian Traynor/Getty)
The car has been stopped just across the road from my office.
This is beyond fucked.
(Darrian Traynor/Getty)
First clear photos of the driver of the maroon sedan believed to have struck and killed three in Melbourne. Picture: Tony Gough
Pic from CBD scene…@theheraldsun has been told car hit several people after mounting footpath before police shot the driver.
Police confirmed one dead. Witnesses saw multiple people injured @theheraldsun
Critical Incident Response Team on scene. Trams & cars stopped amid chaos. @theheraldsun
