CAR HITS SHOPPERS
A DRIVER mowed down dozens of shoppers after deliberately ploughing into crowds at 60mph.
Nineteen people – including a fouryear-old boy – were injured in the “nightmare” rampage.
It happened in the Australian city of Melbourne yesterday on one of the busiest shopping days of the year.
Police said there was no evidence the attack was terror-related. They revealed the driver – a 32-year-old Australian of Afghan descent – suffered from mental health and drug issues.
The four-year-old lad was taken to hospital with serious head injuries. Four other victims are fighting for their lives.
Between 70 and 100 people were crossing the road near the city’s Flinders Street Station when the white Suzuki SUV ploughed through the crowd. Bystander Sue Nicolaidis said: “We heard this noise and looked up. Then we just heard bang, bang, bang and people flying everywhere.
“There were people on the ground, not moving, people screaming – it was just a nightmare.”
Eyewitness Chris Gath added: “I heard it first and then I turned around and saw lots of bodies on the floor. I saw a car ploughing into many people and bodies flying everywhere.”
Acting Chief Commissioner Shane Patton said: “We don’t at this time have any evidence or any intelligence to indicate a connection with terrorism.”