A slashing knifeman, a dead body and a heroic arrest: How witnesses' videos captured the true horror of the Bourke Street attack

  • WARNING: GRAPHIC CONTENT
  • Witness footage shows the knifeman repeatedly lunging for police officers 
  • Other video shows the moment the man was arrested after he was shot
  • One distressing clip reveals how bystanders battled to save a person's life 
  • Police are appealing for witnesses to provide any more footage of the attack 

By Brittany Chain For Daily Mail Australia

Published: 03:41 EST, 9 November 2018 | Updated: 03:59 EST, 9 November 2018

The true horror of Melbourne's Bourke Street attack was captured in chilling footage by witnesses.

Videos - some too graphic to publish in full - show the bearded knifeman slashing at police before he was shot in the chest by cops. 

Other footage shows a bloodied body lying in the road as devastated bystanders battle to save the person's life.

Another dramatic video shows two presumably plain-clothes police officers arresting the attacker after he was shot.  

Photographs from Bourke Street show a white sheet covering a body, with a bare foot protruding

Photographs from Bourke Street show a white sheet covering a body, with a bare foot protruding

Police resorted to shooting the offender in the chest. He is currently in hospital in a critical condition under police guard

Police resorted to shooting the offender in the chest. He is currently in hospital in a critical condition under police guard

Police are appealing for any witnesses to provide more footage related to the attack.

A series of videos have already surfaced online showing the series of events leading up to the moment a knife-wielding man was shot by police in Melbourne's CBD.

This footage could provide police with vital clues as to the moments leading up to the moment the man was arrested and taken into custody.

Police were forced to shoot the attacker after he launched a frenzied tirade against civilians and first responders.  

'Three people have been stabbed, unfortunately one is deceased at the scene, two other victims are currently in hospital,' police Superintendent David Clayton told reporters at the scene. 

The bomb response unit are also at the scene.

Footage shows the man, wearing a long sleeve black shirt and white pants lunging at three officers. 

The officers appear on the defensive for the length of the video, stepping away from the man as he continues to advance on them.  

'(Officers) were confronted by a male brandishing a knife and threatening them,' Supt Clayton said.

'At the same time, passers-by were calling out that members of the public had been stabbed. Police shot the male in the chest and he is now in a critical condition under guard in hospital.' 

The Herald Sun reported the offender has since died of his injuries. 

The man set fire to his vehicle before attacking civilians and officers

The man set fire to his vehicle before attacking civilians and officers

Another video, captured inside a nearby restaurant pans across the carnage from the fiery wreckage of the car to the struck down pedestrian. 

Markel Villasin, 22, was finishing his shift at KFC on Bourke St as the drama unfolded.

'Me and the managers ran out and that's when we saw the car on fire and then we saw the guy on the floor and we wanted to help, there were two blokes helping him out already, he was face down pools of blood around his face,' he told AAP.

'I'm pretty sure he got stabbed in the face.

'I really wanted to help but I was in shock, I didn't know what to do.

'Because he was on his stomach, they turned him over to see if he's alright, he was still alive.'   

Another video, captured inside a nearby restaurant pans across the carnage from the fiery wreckage of the car to the struck down pedestrian

Another video, captured inside a nearby restaurant pans across the carnage from the fiery wreckage of the car to the struck down pedestrian

Moments later, two plain clothing officers manage to get the offender to the ground, presumably after he was shot in the chest

Moments later, two plain clothing officers manage to get the offender to the ground, presumably after he was shot in the chest

Photographs from Bourke Street show a white sheet covering a body, with a bare foot protruding. 

In separate footage, the man can be seen circling a bin with three officers, repeatedly lunging at them and running after them.

A man armed with a trolley became collateral during the exchange, with the knifeman swiping him aside as he tripped over the trolley.  

Moments later, two plain clothing officers manage to get the offender to the ground, presumably after he was shot in the chest.

The officers can be seen twisting his arms and legs as he remains face down on the pavement.

Police were forced to shoot the attacker after he launched a frenzied tirade against civilians and first responders

Officers implored anybody with footage of the incident to share it to the Victoria Police Facebook page or attend the Melbourne West Police Station to provide a witness statement. 

Police are not looking for anyone else in relation to the events.

'There's no known link to terrorism at this stage. We'll keep an open mind as to whether there's any link. It's very early in the stages of the investigation,' Supt Clayton said.

Ambulance Victoria confirmed three people were injured.

'One person has been taken to hospital with a neck injury. They are in a suspected critical condition,' they said.

'A second person has been taken to hospital with a head injury. A third person has also been taken to hospital.'  

Superintendent Clayton told reporters on the scene 'there's no known link to terrorism at this stage. We'll keep an open mind as to whether there's any link. It's very early in the stages of the investigation'

Superintendent Clayton told reporters on the scene 'there's no known link to terrorism at this stage. We'll keep an open mind as to whether there's any link. It's very early in the stages of the investigation'

Police are not looking for anyone else in relation to the attack

Police are not looking for anyone else in relation to the attack

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slashing knifeman, dead body heroic arrest: How witnesses’ videos captured the Bourke Street horror

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