SUV ‘deliberately’ rams crowd in Melbourne, injuring 19

An SUV “deliberately” drove into a crowd in Melbourne’s city centre, injuring up to 19 people, Australian police said today.

However, there is no evidence that the attack was terror-related, according to authorities. A preschool-aged child was among those taken to the hospital, some with critical injuries.

Police arrested a man with a criminal past and mental health problems who is believed to be the driver, The Daily Telegraph reports. A second man, aged 24, who filmed the attack on his mobile phone, was also arrested after police searched his bag and found knives inside. He is not thought to be involved in the car attack, says the newspaper.

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“We believe based on what we have seen that it is a deliberate act. The motivations are unknown,” Victoria Police Commander Russell Barrett told media in Melbourne, according to the Australia Broadcasting Corporation (ABC).

One witness described seeing an SUV travelling at high speed into the crowd just after 4:30pm local time today, ABC says. Others spoke of seeing people “being thrown metres into the air”.

Australian Premier Daniel Andrews called the incident “a horrific act, an evil act, an act of cowardice, perpetrated against innocent bystanders”, The Age newspaper reports.