A man has been shot by police after he stabbed three people and set a car on fire in Melbourne’s CBD, Victoria Police said at a press conference on Nov. 9.
The incident occurred between Swanston and Russell Street along the pedestrian strip of Bourke Street mall around 4:20 p.m. local time, according to eyewitnesses, in what has been described as a distressing scene.
The exploded car was inside a designated pedestrian area. The City of Melbourne is in the process of installing bollards to block traffic access to pedestrian malls.
An unidentified witness then approached the alleged driver and was stabbed in the neck. That witness died at the scene.
The suspect attacked and stabbed two other people, with one reported to have suffered a head wound. Both are currently in hospital.
Police who were in the area arrived promptly on the scene after reports of the burning vehicle. They were immediately attacked by the suspect wielding his knife. Witnesses then described that the police attempted to disarm the man with the help of two witnesses as the suspect kept lunging at them.
Superintendent David Clayton told the media at a press conference that “passersby were calling out that members of the public had been stabbed.”
One witness told the Herald Sun that bystanders were calling to police, “shoot him, shoot him.”
Police then “shot the male in the chest and he is now in a critical condition, under guard at hospital,” Clayton said.
Witness Drew Hair told AAP that the suspect was dressed in a black tunic and white pants, was about six foot four inches tall, and of African appearance.
Police said that there was no known link to terrorism at this stage and that “we'll keep an open mind as to whether there’s any link.”
No police officers were injured in the attack and police have confirmed that they are not pursuing any other individuals in relation to the incident.
Clayton added that the bomb squad had cleared the area and deemed it safe, and that fire crews had extinguished the burning car. Clayton said that the public is still advised that the area remains closed as investigations are ongoing at the crime scene.
“We ask the public, unless you’ve got a purpose to be here, please avoid the area, we'll provide regular updates through the media in relation to when the area is safe and clear,” he said.
Yarra Trams advised that a temporary diversion of trams would be in place Friday night following the incident.
