Three dead, 20 injured after driver ploughs car into pedestrians in Australian city Melbourne

Follow 9News Nigeria On Social Media

Police and emergency services personnel are seen after police cordoned off Bourke Street mal, after a car hit pedestrians in central Melbourne, Australia, January 20, 2017. REUTERS/Edgar Su
Social sharing

A man deliberately drove into pedestrians, killing three and injuring at least 20 in the centre 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 coloured 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 ploughing 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.”

The incident was believed to be related to an overnight stabbing in the city, Bateson added.

READ ALSO  Nigeria's "Oil Curse": 'Paradox of Plenty' or 'Poverty of Paradox'?

Photographs published by local media showed a stationary, badly damaged car with a nearby man in red underwear pinned to the ground by police.

Witness Maria Kitjapanon told Melbourne’s Age newspaper that the car was rammed by a police car and that police fired shots into the car before pulling the driver out.

“There were probably 10 police surrounding that guy’s car, with guns drawn, and they fired into the car. Then they dragged someone out via the passengers side, then all 10 of them sat on top of him,” she said.

Police have locked down the city and suspended tram services.

Melbourne is currently hosting the Australian Open tennis grand slam and is packed with thousands of extra tourists, only a few blocks from where the incident occurred. Police said the tennis tournament continued to operate as normal.

Australia, a staunch U.S. ally, has been on heightened alert for attacks by home-grown radicals since 2014 and authorities have said they have thwarted a number of plots. There have been several “lone wolf” assaults, including a 2014 cafe siege in Sydney that left two hostages and the gunman dead.

Source: Reuters

Leave your comment on this post

THE ROTTEN FISH: CAN OF WORMS OPENED OF APC & TINUBU'S GOVERNMENT OVER NIGERIA'S ECONOMIC DOWNTURN

WATCH THE CRITICAL ANALYSIS AND KNOW THE RESPONSIBLE PARTIES TO BLAME FOR NIGERIA'S ECONOMIC CHALLENGES, WHILE CITIZENS ENDURE SEVERE HARDSHIPS.
READ ALSO  Check Out Ten States In Nigeria That Borrowed From The CBN To Pay Salaries

Watch this episode of ISSUES IN THE NEWS on 9News Nigeria featuring Peter Obi's Special Adviser, Dr Katch Ononuju, 9News Nigeria Publisher, Obinna Ejianya and Tinubu Support Group Leader, McHezekiah Eherechi

The economic crisis and hardship in Nigeria are parts of the discussion.


Watch, leave your comments, and share to create more awareness on this issue.


#9NewsNigeria #Nigeria #issuesInTheNews #politics #tinubu THE ROTTEN FISH: CAN OF WORMS OPENED ...
DON'T FORGET TO SUBSCRIBE AND LEAVE YOUR COMMENTS FOR SUBSEQUENT UPDATES
#9newsnigeria #economia #economy #nigeria #government @9newsng
www.9newsng.com

Leave your comment

Click on the link below or Scan the QR Code to join the 9News Nigeria WhatsApp Channel

9News Nigeria Investigative Reports WhatsApp Channel
9News Nigeria Investigative Reports WhatsApp Channel
About Timothy Stephen 1104 Articles
9News Nigeria Global Breaking News Platform News from Nigeria News from Africa Nigerian News African News

Be the first to comment

Leave your comment