Summary
This is where I’ll end our rolling coverage of a fatal incident in the Melbourne CBD today.
Below is what we know about the attack.
- A 26-year-old man drove his car through Bourke Street mall and several intersections, hitting dozens of people.
- He was shot by police and arrested at the scene, before being taken to hospital for treatment of a bullet wound, believed to be in his arm and non-life threatening.
- Three people were killed, including a man and woman in their 20s and a young child.
- At least 24 of those injured are in various hospitals around Melbourne, including four children. At least five are in critical condition.
- An infant in a pram was hit by the car and is in a critical condition.
- Police believe it was a deliberate act, coming at the end of a suspended police chase, and have confirmed it had no links to terrorism.
- Witnesses reported the man doing burnouts and doughnuts near Flinders St station, leaning out of his window and yelling at bystanders.
- It’s believed the man was involved in a stabbing at Windsor early this morning. Police allege he and his brother fought at a house, and their mother was also assaulted.
- The man left the scene and was driving a car with a woman beside him, initially believed to be a hostage. She got out of the car at Bolte bridge before he drove into the city.
- The man is known to police, with an “extensive” background of family violence, and known mental health issues, and drug use.
- Victorian premier Daniel Andrews thanked emergency services and bystanders who assisted those injured, and said: “we can be confident that we are stronger than this evil criminal act”.
- Police urged people to stay out of the city if possible while homicide investigations continued at the scene and roadblocks disrupt traffic.
Updated
From opposition leader Bill Shorten:
All Australians stand with the people of Melbourne in this horrific moment.
We offer our heartfelt condolences to the loved ones of the lost.We pray for the injured and the frightened, in particular the very young children.
We pay tribute to the first responders. We give thanks for the bravery of the police, the speed of the paramedics and the skill of those who’ve worked to save the lives of the injured.
We salute those passers-by who rushed to the aid of their neighbours.
But we also know that on dark days like this, words are so inadequate.
Words can’t capture the horror we feel. Words can’t comfort those who’ve lost someone they love. Words won’t heal people who’ve been hurt or banish the fear. Words can’t put back the lives stolen in a few minutes of madness.
It’s difficult for all of us to comprehend how, why and what has happened. Harder still to understand that it happened here, in a country and a city that prides itself on being such a welcoming, safe and peaceful place.
Victoria Police have made it clear this was not an act of terror, it was an act of murder. A cowardly, senseless, destructive crime that has claimed the lives of innocent people.
We wait for answers, we wait for justice and tonight we hold all those in sadness and pain, close to our hearts.
Please avoid this area while Victoria Police investigate the Bourke St mall incident. @EMV_news pic.twitter.com/o0YhQHMSoy
— Victoria Police (@VictoriaPolice) January 20, 2017
From prime minister Malcolm Turnbull:
The prayers and heartfelt sympathies of all Australians are with the victims and the families of the victims of this shocking time in Melbourne today.
We thank and acknowledge the heroism, and the professionalism, of the police and emergency workers who rushed to the aid of the victims.
Joined by bystanders who, mindless of their own danger, sought to help those who had been attacked in this shocking crime.
Their love, their selflessness, their courage is the very best of our Australian spirit.
The victims
On the victims, Ashton said:
Three people are dead, including a man and a woman in their thirties, and a young child. The three were all killed at different intersections, police believe, away from the pedestrian mall.
At least 15 others are in hospitals receiving treatment, with five in critical conditions. An earlier post on this blog detailed the current state of four children, including a three-month-old baby currently in surgery.
Ashton said one infant was given emergency treatment at the scene, and then police officers drove the child to hospital in a police car “because we couldn’t wait for the ambulance to arrive, such was the condition of the child,” Ashton said.
Ashton confirmed a child in a pram was hit by the car, and was now in a critical condition.
The coroner is at the scene, and the police homicide squad will be leading the investigation.
Police called for any witnesses to come forward, particularly if they have photographs or video.
Anyone worried about loved ones or wanting to report a missing person should call 1800727077.
Updated
The driver
Ashton also provided new details about the perpetrator:
He is a 26-year-old man with an extensive family violence history. He has no connection with terrorism or terrorist organisations on any police index.
He has come to the attention of police “on many occasions in the past”.
There are also mental health and drug related issues in the man’s background.
In recent days he was allegedly involved in family violence-related assaults, and had been charged last weekend, Ashton said.
Earlier this morning it’s alleged he and his brother had a fight at a house in Windsor, and his brother later presented to hospital with stab wounds. The men’s mother was also assaulted.
There was a woman in the car with the man when police first sought to intervene, and investigators are still working through if she was a hostage or in the car for another reason, Ashton said. She got out before the car got to the city, and police are now questioning her.
Updated
The arrest
Ashton detailed the initial incident:
The man, a 26-year-old known to police, was seen about 1.45pm doing burnouts on Swanston St, before entering the mall where he hit pedestrians.
Police suspect it was an intentional act “traveling at speed right through the mall, it has then continued along Bourke St, over the intersection of Elizabeth, and made it’s way to 501, outside the RACV club on Bourke St. At that time police have intercepted the vehicle, as I understand it rammed the vehicle. The offender has been taken into custody,” said Ashton.
During the police intervention the man was shot, reportedly in the arm, and is being treated in hospital for injuries “which we believe are not life threatening at this stage”.
Ashton said police had been pursuing the man in the car earlier, but he was driving erratically and the road chase was suspended for safety reasons but continued from the police air wing. The man then drove into the city and to the mall, and the incident occurred underneath the air wing, which was filming.
“We’ve got plenty of evidence of this driver killing these people in the city, Ashton said.
Updated
We’ve just had a comprehensive update from the chief commissioner, Graham Ashton. I’ll summarise the new information over a few posts.
The Victorian Premier and police authorities have held a press conference to update the situation.
Here are some of the comments from premier Daniel Andrews.
Our emergency services have done us proud, they’ve done a great job in the most difficult of circumstances.
They have supported the most vulnerable and apprehended the person involved in this terrible criminal act.
Given there are no links to terror organisations or other criminal activity, he is no longer a threat to the safety of… Victorians.
There are more and more stories of ordinary victorians coming to the aid of their fellow victorians. Reaching out, helping, providing assistance, doing the right thing. That does them great credit and it makes all of us very proud to be members of this great state.
Our hearts are breaking this afternoon, that a number of people have died, that others remain in a critical condition, very seriously ill, gravely ill in hospitals around our city but we are stronger than this. Through our response of our emergency services, the instinctive way Victorians have reached out to support each other, we can be confident that we are stronger than this evil criminal act.
The Royal Children’s hospital has provided an update on the children they have treated today, as well as a 23-year-old brought in.
- A three-month-old is now in an operating theatre.
- A two-year-old has been transferred to the intensive care unit.
- A nine-year old with limb injuries has been transferred to a ward.
- A 12-year-old is under assessment in the emergency department.
- A 23-year-old has been treated for limb injuries.
No further details would be released until at least after families had been fully informed, Dr Mike O’Brien, head of surgery at RCH, said.
“We have a mixture of injuries from orthopedic to neurosurgical and some possible abdominal injuries.”
“None of the children have deceased but it’s far to say they are in a critical condition,” the doctor said of those brought to RCH. He said the hospital had not needed to activate code brown, and managed with current resources.
“The staff are doing what they do, they’re professionals and they’re getting on with it.”
Police have separately confirmed that a young child died, it’s believed at the scene.
Media conference: Bourke Street incident https://t.co/2mw5rlHUTa
— RCH Melbourne (@RCHMelbourne) January 20, 2017
Updated
The mayor of Melbourne, Robert Doyle, and Victoria’s opposition leader, Matthew Guy, have both released statements.
Many families have been devastated today in a vicious and deliberate act of violence. Our thoughts are with the victims and their families.
— Robert Doyle (@LordMayorMelb) January 20, 2017
Matthew Guy:
I, like everyone, am distressed and shocked by the tragedy in Melbourne today.
Our thoughts and prayers are with the deceased and injured and all their loved ones.
We thank all emergency services who responded at the scene and those at Melbourne hospitals who are caring for the injured.
Updated
Police confirm shooting
Victoria police has released more details about a series of incidents today which it believes are related to the Bourke Street incident, including an attempted kidnapping.
It has also confirmed that officers opened fire on the car’s driver.
Below is the statement in full.
It is believed police were in pursuit of a vehicle in the CBD when the vehicle deliberately struck a number of pedestrians in the vicinity of Bourke and Queens Streets at approximately 1.30pm.
Police shot the man who was the sole occupant of the vehicle and he received bullet wounds.
He was taken into custody where he is being treated for non-life threatening injuries.
The incident is not terrorism related.
Police understand the incident is linked to a stabbing that took place in Windsor early this morning (20 January) involving parties known to one another.
Following this incident, it is alleged the same man took a woman, who is known to him, hostage in his car. She managed to escape from the car on the Bolte Bridge earlier today.
Three people have been confirmed deceased with more than 20 people injured.
The deceased are yet to be formally identified however police can confirm one of the deceased is a young child.
Police and emergency services remain on the scene and request that people avoid the area.
Police have blocked the Bourke Street between William Street and Swanston Streets including the Bourke Street Mall.
The Homicide Squad will be investigating with the assistance of the Major Collision Investigation Unit.
Updated
Young child among those killed
Victoria police have confirmed that a young child is one of the three victims killed today. They would not provide any further details.
Updated
St Vincent’s hospital is also treating six patients.
St Vincent's currently caring for 6 patients from #bourkestreet incident.
— St Vincent's (@StVincentsMelb) January 20, 2017
We are not expecting any further patients. pic.twitter.com/rZrd4NpPAT
Updated
Despite police urging people to stay away from the city, Myer’s nearby store quickly reopened. The store has closed its Bourke Street entrance but others are open and staff have returned to work.
Crime tape and cop cars, but it's #businessasusual I feel sick #bourkest pic.twitter.com/L9G87rKScz
— Jude (@fluxcapacitorr) January 20, 2017
Updated
I posted earlier that the former police commissioner Christine Nixon had witnessed part of the incident and spoken to Melbourne radio about it.
Here is some more of her account, including on the multiple unconfirmed reports that shots were fired:
I was on the corner of Bourke and Williams and was taking to someone on my phone, crossed the road, people were calling out … I turned around and saw the car. He was probably about a metre from me. I stepped back, and he went by and continued on Bourke Street being chased by police officers.
Nixon said she had heard two shots, which she understood were fired by Victoria police officers.
There were a number of people on the ground and many bystanders ran to help those people. I went to help the woman who owned the pram … She kept asking me: ‘Where’s the baby? I don’t know.’”
Updated
A few pictures from the scene at Bourke Street.
Updated
This is what we know about the victims:
Three people have been killed.
Four children are being treated at the Royal Children’s hospital. One is critical and two are in a serious condition.
Five patients were admitted to the Alfred, with three in a critical but stable condition and two in a serious condition.
Ten people are being treated at the Royal Melbourne hospital, which is not releasing the condition of patients yet.
Melbourne hospitals are reportedly in code brown, which notes an external emergency with multiple casualties that overwhelm available resources.
Updated
The Royal Children’s hospital has provided an update on the four children it is treating. One is in a critical condition while the other three are serious.
Of the patients we have received from the Bourke St incident, one is critical and three are in a serious condition
— RCH Melbourne (@RCHMelbourne) January 20, 2017
Updated
Multiple witnesses reported the driver leaning out of the car window and yelling at bystanders before he drove into Bourke Street mall.
First clear photos of the driver of the maroon sedan believed to have struck and killed three in Melbourne. Picture: Tony Gough pic.twitter.com/Ziqv2Y2uds
— Rohan Smith (@Ro_Smith) January 20, 2017
Updated
Here is the police media conference in full.
Updated
Calla Wahlquist reports:
The man who presented to hospital with stab wounds this morning remains in a critical condition.
The men in the stabbing incident were believed to have known each other. Police have not released any further information about the possible link to the Bourke Street incident.
Updated
The stabbing police believe was connected to today’s incident occurred in Windsor early this morning.
A man in his 20s was left in a critical condition after the stabbing at a house on Raleigh street, the Age reported. Police were called to reports of two men fighting but when they arrived both men had left the scene. A man later presented to hospital with stab wounds.
Updated
Death toll rises to three
Victoria police have just held a press conference revealing that the death toll from the incident has risen to three, in what police believe was a deliberate act, but not linked to terrorism.
“A male deliberately drove into pedestrians in the Bourke Street mall,” said Acting Commander Stuart Bateson. “We currently have three deceased and 20 injuries … We believe it is connected to an earlier stabbing in the southern metro region.”
Bateson said the driver was believed to have driven in circles outside Flinders Street station before driving through the mall and deliberately hitting pedestrians, before crossing to Elizabeth Street and hitting more people.
“This is not a [counter-terrorism]-related incident,” he said.
“We ask the public to avoid the city. It’s going to take us a really long time to process this scene. Our priority is with the injured.”
Bateson urged witnesses who left the scene to get in touch with police.
Police were not looking for anyone else and there was no further threat to the public, he said.
They would provide further updates at 5pm.
Updated
The Royal Children’s hospital has confirmed it is treating four injured children. The patients are now being assessed, and the hospital will provide more information when it comes to hand.
Updated
Calla Wahlquist is on the ground near Bourke and Swanston streets.
She said police were moving back containment lines and asking all people who did not witness the incident to leave the scene.
Calla has been speaking to witnesses, who are talking to police.
“According to a man I’ve just spoken to, John Astasio, the car came in from Swanston Street down Bourke Street, and appeared to try and brake at one point, its tyres were spinning and it was smoking.
John Anstasio sells the Big Issue on Bourke St. He saw the car speed past, followed by police. pic.twitter.com/fXHgiYCtEe
— Calla Wahlquist (@callapilla) January 20, 2017
“Another man was further down the road on the 96 tram. Out the window they saw the car go up on to the footpath and collect some people. He got out of the tram and followed it up and he could see pools of blood on the side of the road.”
A number of people took shelter in shops, with some apparently locked in while the incident was under way.
“They have been releasing batches of people who have been stuck in different shops on Bourke Street. I just saw a woman come out holding the hand of a young kid, about five. They didn’t appear injured.”
Updated
There have been unconfirmed reports that a small child is among those injured.
The former police commissioner Christine Nixon has just told Melbourne radio she assisted a woman whose pram was hit. She said she believed the child and mother had been knocked down, and the pram dragged by the car.
@theage upturned pram on Cnr William and Bourke pic.twitter.com/C6S3Tzn92K
— Joel Beath (@joelbeath) January 20, 2017
Updated
Footage has shown a maroon sedan driving erratically in circles outside Flinders Street station. A number of witnesses reported that the car was doing doughnuts before it hit people.
Footage from Melbourne of car driving erratically outside Flinders St Station before police shooting. Up to 20 injured. Vision @SkyNewsAust pic.twitter.com/PHBoUMfydX
— BenFordham (@BenFordham) January 20, 2017
Updated
Here is the latest police statement in full:
A man has been arrested following an incident in the CBD this afternoon. At this early stage it is believed a man driving a vehicle has struck a number of pedestrians in the vicinity of Bourke and Queens Streets just before 2pm. Emergency services are assisting multiple patients but at least one person has been confirmed deceased. Pedestrian access has been closed on Bourke Street between William and Swanston Streets. The exact circumstances surrounding the incident are yet to be determined and we will provide further information when it comes to hand. Police request that people avoid the area. The situation is now contained.
One person has died and 20 people are injured after a car hit multiple people after driving into Bourke street mall in Melbourne about 2pm. Police confirmed that one person had died at the scene and one person had been arrested while ambulance officers said they were treating 20 people for injuries.
Here is the Guardian’s initial news report. Reporter Calla Wahlquist is at the scene and speaking to witnesses:
Hank Kerr was on the 96 tram when he saw a car hitting pedestrians in Bourke St. pic.twitter.com/k8o3c4LQjx
— Calla Wahlquist (@callapilla) January 20, 2017
Updated
