Melbourne car attack: Flinders St driver spoke of Muslims' 'mistreatment' but had no terror links, police say
Updated
Police say the man who crashed his car into Melbourne pedestrians yesterday has blamed "the mistreatment of Muslims" for "some of his activities", but they still do not know what motivated him to drive his car through a busy crossing.
Authorities say there is no increased threat to the public after the man with a history of drug use and mental illness allegedly crashed his car into people outside Flinders Street train station.
The man was a 32-year-old Australian of Afghan descent.
The incident just after 4:40pm yesterday left 19 people in hospital, including a four-year-old boy.
Twelve were still in hospital this morning. One of them, a man in his eighties, is in a critical condition.
Victoria Police Acting Chief Commissioner Shane Patton said the condition of a four-year-old boy, who was taken to the Royal Children's Hospital with a head injury, had improved.
He said the driver was undergoing a psychiatric assessment.
"Last night investigators gained some access to him and were able to not conduct a formal interview, but had some preliminary discussions with him," Acting Commissioner Patton told ABC News Breakfast.
"During those discussions, he made some utterances … in respect to a number of matters.
"He spoke of dreams and voices, but also attributed some of his activities as well due to the mistreatment of Muslims.
"Now, obviously we are continuing to explore this entire incident and trying to ascertain what the motivations are.
"We haven't ruled anything in or out and our counter-terrorism command continues to obviously assist Crime Command in this investigation."
He said police had not identified any links to extremist groups, or anyone "inciting" him to carry out the attack.
The New Zealand High Commission in Canberra confirmed that one of those injured was a New Zealand citizen.
Witnesses reported hearing loud "bangs" as the car ploughed into pedestrians, saying people were "thrown into the air" before the car crashed into a tram station and came to a stop.
They said he was known to police, but was not on bail or under any corrections orders at the time of the incident.
"We believe, based on what we have seen, that it is a deliberate act," Victoria Police Commander Russell Barrett said yesterday.
"The motivations are unknown."
'Heroic' off-duty officer in hospital
Acting Commissioner Patton said a "heroic" off-duty police officer, who arrested the driver, would have surgery this morning for an injured finger.
He is still in hospital.
"[It was a] great response, great actions with everyone who responded at the time, including all the police and emergency services," Acting Commissioner Patton said.
Victorian Premier Daniel Andrews last night said it "would be right to single [the officer] out for special praise".
"He instinctively came to the aid of others, in the protection of public order, and potentially, avoiding so much other carnage," Mr Andrews said.
He said the arresting officer was injured, and was among those being treated in hospital.
Acting Commissioner Patton said last night there would be "hundreds more police … out and about" in coming days, with the city preparing to host big-ticket events like Christmas carols and the Boxing Day Test.
"We have no increased threat for any of those events … at this stage we believe and understand this is a quarantined incident," he said.
The driver's vehicle was seen being removed from the scene overnight after police searched it. All roads in Melbourne's CBD were opened early this morning.
A second man, 24, who was seen filming the incident and was found to be carrying a bag with knives in it, was also arrested yesterday afternoon.
He was last night interviewed by investigators but has now been released and is expected to be charged on summons over possession of cannabis and possessing a weapon.
Police said in a statement they did not believe the man was involved in the incident.
Topics: emergency-incidents, police, melbourne-3000, vic
First posted
