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As it happened: terror suspect known to ASIO dies after stabbing rampage

As it happened

That is all for our live coverage of another tragedy in the heart of our city. Our thoughts are with the victims and their families.

You can read more about what happened here.

Tributes to injured Tasmanian

Ages of victims released

Victoria Police have released the ages of the attacker and the two injured victims. The attacker who was shot and died in hospital was 31 years old.

A 26-year-old and a 58-year-old man were stabbed and taken to hospital with non-life threatening injuries. The man who was killed is yet to be formally identified.

Police treating Bourke Street attack as terror-related

Recap: Victoria Police Chief Commissioner Graham Ashton has said police are treating today's Bourke Street attack as terror-related, while Premier Daniel Andrews has called it an "evil and terrible thing". 

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PM: Australians will never be intimidated by these appalling attacks

Prime Minister Scott Morrison has issued the following statement on today's Bourke Street terror attack, and has said Australians will "never be intimated by these appalling attacks". 

I condemn the act of terrorism in Melbourne today that has tragically taken the life of a fellow Australian who has died as a result of this evil and cowardly attack.

I praise the bravery of the police who were on the scene and took action and those who selflessly came to the assistance of the injured and provided comfort to the distressed.

This attack is being treated as a terrorism incident.

I have been briefed together with the Minister for Home Affairs by our law enforcement and security agencies this evening and an investigation by the Joint Counter Terrorism Team is underway, led by the Victorian Police.

I have spoken this evening with the Premier of Victoria and Leader of the Opposition. Federal and State agencies are working closely together.

Victorian Police have advised there is no ongoing threat. However, the investigation will continue.

Australians will never be intimidated by these appalling attacks and we will continue to go about our lives and enjoy the freedoms that the terrorists detest.

Launceston businessman one of the two men injured

A prominent Launceston businessman has been injured in the Bourke Street attack.

Rod Patterson was taken to The Alfred and his injuries are unknown at this stage.

His wife, Maree, posted to social media thanking everyone for their wishes.

“So unfortunately we got caught up in the attack in Bourke Street this afternoon and Rodney was hurt – good news is he is in a great hospital and doing OK given the circumstances,” she wrote.

Mr Patterson, a former Autobarn franchisee and president of the South Launceston Football Club, owns an apartment in Melbourne.

Three men were stabbed during today's attack, and one of them died of his injuries. Mr Patterson and one other man are still in hospital.  

-Launceston Examiner 

Opposition leader Matthew Guy: 'enough is enough'

Opposition Leader Matthew Guy has said "enough is enough", that there was no room for "moral squeamishness" and that all the state's resources should be used to ensure the safety of Victorians.

"We need to eradicate this sort of behaviour, because enough is enough." 

He said Friday's attack was the third such attack in as many years. 

"We do not have to live like this. we should not have to endure this."

View the media conference

Here is the video of the media conference on the Bourke Street attack /note, video cuts out between 0:30 and 1:00):

The main new information from Victoria Police Chief Commissioner Graham Ashton was: 

  • the man who drove the ute to Bourke Street, set it on fire and attacked police and bystanders with a knife was shot in the chest at the scene and has since died in hospital. 
  • the man was known to police and intelligence agencies, but his identity cannot be released at this stage for operational reasons. 
  • the incident is being treated as terror-related at this stage.
  • the Bourke Street area will likely reopen tomorrow morning. 
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Three men stabbed during Bourke Street incident

Victoria Police Chief Commissioner Graham Ashton said three men were stabbed during the Bourke Street incident. 

He said the three men were rushed to Royal Melbourne Hospital, and that one man died from his wounds. The man's next of kin were being notified and his identity will not be released at this stage, he said. 

Ashton: attack being treated as terror-related but no ongoing threat to Melburnians

Victoria Police Chief Commissioner Graham Ashton said Stakes races at Flemington, A-League soccer matches and Remembrance Day commemorations would still go ahead in Melbourne and people should attend.

He said while police were treating the Bourke Street incident as a terror attack the public should not be concerned there was an ongoing threat.

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