Car ploughs into crowd in Melbourne, 19 injured
MELBOURNE: A car ploughed into a crowd in Melbourne on Thursday, injuring 19 people in what police said was a “deliberate act” but one they did not believe was terror related.
Witnesses said people were thrown through the air after being hit by the vehicle, which did not appear to be trying to stop as it “mowed everybody down” at a busy intersection.
Victoria state police said the 32-year-old driver, an Australian of Afghan descent, was known to authorities for traffic and “minor assault” offences and had mental health issues.
The car was driven “intentionally” through the intersection and collided with a “large number” of pedestrians, acting chief commissioner Shane Patton told reporters in Melbourne.
The driver “has a history of drug use and mental health issues... At this time we do not have any evidence or intelligence to indicate a connection with terrorism” or extremism, he said.
The man was arrested after a tussle with an off-duty police officer.
Victoria state premier Daniel Andrews, called the incident an “evil, deliberate, cowardly act”.
In a tweet, police appealed to members of the public to upload any images they might have of the incident to help assist with their investigation.
Australia has become increasingly worried about homegrown extremism and officials say they have prevented 13 terror attacks on home soil in the past few years.
The Australian government in August unveiled a strategy aimed at preventing vehicle attacks in crowded public places.
Suggested steps include deterrent options like fencing and closed circuit cameras, and delaying approaches such as trees and bollards to slow down vehicles.