At least four persons, including a child, were killed and 20 others injured today when the driver of a car "intentionally" hit pedestrians here in the heart of a busy street in Australia's second-largest city.
A man and a woman, both in their 30s, and the child, were killed in different locations along Bourke St, Police Commissioner Graham Ashton said, while ruling out any terror angle.
Police said more than 20 people were injured. Up to five persons are understood to be in a critical condition, ABC News reported.
Victoria's Police Chief Commissioner Graham Ashton has confirmed the driver of the vehicle that "intentionally" ploughed into pedestrians in Melbourne's Central Business District (CBD) area is 26-year-old Dimitrious Gargasoulas known to police and was on bail.
Gargasoulas, was shot by police in his arm and is being treated in hospital. Police are going to charge him in relation to multiple homicides and some other charges.
"There is an extensive family violence history involved. He has come to our attention on many occasions in the past. We have mental health and drug-related issues in the background of this particular person," he said.
"He has been coming to our attention more recently over recent days in relation to assaults, family violence-related assaults."
Gargasoulas had been wanted over the stabbing of his brother. It is unclear what happened in the 11 hours after the stabbing. Gargasoulas allegedly disrupted a television journalist's report at the scene of the stabbing, parking in the background in the stolen car.
Ashton said police have ruled out any terror angle.
"This individual is not related to any counter-terrorism or any terrorism-related activities. He is not on our books as having any connection with terrorism and we're not regarding this as a terrorism-related incident," Ashton said.
Former Victoria Police commissioner Christine Nixon, who was present at the scene, said one of the injured was a toddler, who appeared to get thrown out of a pram.
That infant is currently in a critical condition at hospital.
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