The Latest: Melbourne police say no sign of terrorist link
Dec 21, 2017
Australian police say there is no evidence of a terrorist link to a car ramming attack in central Melbourne that left 19 people injured
SYDNEY — The Latest on a car which rammed into pedestrians in Melbourne, Australia (all times local):
10:15 p.m.
Australian police say the driver of a vehicle that rammed into pedestrians in Melbourne is an Australian citizen of Afghan decent who has a known history of drug use and mental health issues.
Police said in news conference late Thursday that there was no evidence or intelligence to indicate that the incident was connected to terrorism, but they believe the act was deliberate. They said counter-terror officials would remain involved in the investigation to be sure there was no connection.
Police said the 32-year-old driver was known to state police on "historical assault matters."
Police said Thursday's incident on a busy city street left 19 people injured.
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6 p.m.
Two men have been arrested in Australia after the SUV in which they were traveling was driven into pedestrians on a busy central Melbourne street, leaving 14 people injured in what police believe was a deliberate act.
Victoria state police said the driver of the vehicle and a second man are in custody after the incident, which occurred on Flinders Street in the city's central business district just after 4:30 p.m. Thursday when the area was busy with Christmas shoppers.
Commander Russell Barrett told media that while the motive of the incident was not immediately clear, "at this stage we believe it was a deliberate act."
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5 p.m.
Two men have been arrested after the car in which they were traveling crashed into pedestrians on a busy central Melbourne street, leaving up to 19 people injured.
Victorian state police said the driver of the vehicle and a second man were in police custody after the incident, which occurred on Flinders Street in the city's central business district just after 4:30 p.m. Thursday when the area was busy with Christmas shoppers.
The motive of the incident was not clear immediately. Sky News Australia reported the driver of the white Suzuki SUV was wrestled to the ground and handcuffed after his vehicle crashed into a bollard by a cable car stop.
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