A man deliberately drove into pedestrians, killing three and injuring at least 20 in the center of Australia’s second largest city Melbourne on Friday, but police said the lunch-time incident was not terror-related.
Video footage from a witness showed a maroon colored car driving around in circles in an intersection outside Flinders St railway station in the city’s central business district, with the driver hanging his arm out the window.
Two people approached the car, apparently trying to stop it.
“He was half hanging outside the car…he was just so reckless…he just didn’t care,” witness Laura Pollson told the Australian Broadcasting Corp.
The man then drove up a pedestrian mall, deliberately plowing into people, Victoria state police said. A shop video showed several people diving into a convenience store as the car sped along the footpath.
“A male deliberately drove into pedestrians in the Bourke Street mall, and we currently have three deceased and at least 20 injuries,” Victoria Police acting commander Stuart Bateson told reporters.
“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 (counter-terrorism) related incident.” (Reuters)