Driver Charged With Attempted Murder Over Australian Vehicle Attack

By Reuters
December 23, 2017 Last Updated: December 23, 2017
A police officer detains a suspected man following the car incident at Flinders St station in Melbourne, Australia, Dec. 21, 2017 in this image taken from video footage obtained from social media. (Twitter / @LACHLANVE/ via Reuters)

MELBOURNE–The man accused of deliberately plowing into Christmas shoppers on a busy street in the Australian city of Melbourne was charged on Saturday with 18 counts of attempted murder and one count of conduct endangering life.

The Thursday incident was the second serious vehicle attack in Australia’s second biggest city this year.

Australian Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull said nine of the 19 victims were foreign nationals. He did not specify their nationalities but Australian media reported they included people from China, India, Ireland, Italy, New Zealand, South Korea and Venezuela.

Police said they had charged the man, Saeed Noori who arrived in Australia as an Afghani refugee, after formally interviewing him about the attack that police had earlier described as a “deliberate act”.

Police have said Noori, 32, is known to have mental health problems and to use drugs and they did not believe the attack was terrorism-related.

Police suspect Noori was behind the wheel of a white SUV when he deliberately sped up and drove into dozens of pedestrians crossing the road at one of the busiest intersections in Melbourne’s central business district.

Noori appeared in the Magistrates Court later on Saturday where he was remanded in custody. He will next appear in court on Wednesday. The court also ordered that Noori be assessed by psychologists.

Islamic terrorists have used vehicles to attack people several times in Europe and the United States over the past couple of years.

In January, six people were killed in Melbourne’s central business district when a man used his vehicle to mow them down. Police also ruled out terrorism for that attack.

Following the January incident, authorities installed 140 concrete bollards in the city center.

Victoria State premier Daniel Andrews said 12 people from Thursday’s incident remain in hospital, including three who are in critical condition.

He said there would be an increased police presence at Melbourne events, including the Boxing Day Test Cricket, carols and other major sports events.