Nineteen injured after car driven at shoppers

Australia: Man held had history of mental health problems

A driver arrested after a car was driven into pedestrians in Melbourne was a 32-year-old Australian of Afghan descent with a history of drug use and mental health problems, police have said.

Victoria Police chief Shane Patton said a second man, aged 24, who was arrested after he was seen filming the incident was found to have a bag containing knives.

Investigators have found no evidence to suggest a link with terrorism and Mr Patton said they had not established any relationship between the two men.

Some 19 people were injured, four critically, when a white car was driven “in a deliberate” act at crowds outside Flinders Street station at around 4.30pm yesterday.

Mr Patton said: “We have reviewed the footage and are satisfied that he was driving the car without anyone else present.

“He is a person known to Victoria Police. He has historical assault matters and has a history of drug use as well as mental health issues.

“We understand that he was on a mental health plan and receiving treatment.

“We do not at this time have any intelligence to indicate that there is a connection to terrorism.”

The second man held in connection with the incident was seen filming it on a mobile phone “and also had a bag that had some knives in it”, Mr Patton said, but it appears he may not be involved.

Daniel Andrews, premier of Victoria state of which Melbourne is the capital, said a pre-school aged child was taken to the Royal Children’s Hospital for treatment for a non-life-threatening injury.

He told the press conference: “I am confident that we will go about our business and we will celebrate Christmas, we will be at the Boxing Day Test, Carols By Candlelight and we will spend what should be a joyous time with people that we love,” he said.

“But we will all spare a thought for those that have been touched and, indeed, ever changed by the evil and cowardly scenes in Flinders Street today.”

Witnesses described seeing people “flying everywhere” as the car was driven along the street which was busy with Christmas shoppers and commuters.

Lachlan Read told the Herald Sun the incident lasted about 15 seconds.

“It was bang, bang, bang. It was just one after the other.

“The last bang the car stopped,” the 20-year-old said. “There were bodies on the ground and people running up to them – it was mayhem.”

Picture: PA. Police at the scene of the incident in Melbourne yesterday.