At least four persons, including a child, were killed and 31 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 a 10-year-old boy, were killed in different locations along Bourke St, Police Commissioner Graham Ashton said, while ruling out any terror angle.
Police said more than 31 people were injured. Six people are in a critical condition, including a three-month-old girl. Ashton has warned the death toll may rise.
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 "Jimmy" 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."
He was accused of stabbing his brother in Windsor on this morning and also has a history of family violence, as well as mental health and drug problem.
Ashton said police have confirmed that the incident was not terror-related.
"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.
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