New Year's evil: Manhunt on for sexual predator who indecently assaulted a young girl celebrating 2019 with her parents
- Child sexually assaulted in Melbourne's iconic Flinders Street Station
- A New Year's Eve mishap on the coast of Victoria saw a seven year old injured
- Crowd hit with falling debris as fireworks display goes horribly wrong
- Police praised Victorians for being well behaved during the celebrations
A manhunt has begun for a man who indecently assaulted a young girl as she was enjoying New Year's Eve festivities in the heart of Melbourne.
She had been watching the fireworks display with her parents in the CBD when she was attacked by the stranger just after midnight at busy Flinders Street Station.
Deputy Commissioner Patton said the sexual crimes squad was investigating the incident but were yet to identify a suspect.
Investigators are expected to trawl through CCTV in the hope of identifying the pervert.
A child was assaulted in the company of adults at Flinders Street Station last night
'Obviously it's something we're very concerned about,' Mr Patton said.
Police could not provide an exact age or further details about the attack as the investigation was ongoing.
'That type of criminal offending is horrendous and we will investigate it as fully as we can with the view of apprehending the offender,' Mr Patton said.
'She was with adults at the time. The offender was unknown to them.'
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Mr Patton described the attack as 'horrendous'.
'We will continue to pursue and see if we can apprehend that offender,' he said.
Across the state, a small child enjoying a New Year's Eve fireworks display was treated for facial injuries after being struck in the face by an out-of-control firecracker.
The seven year-old child sustained minor injuries in the incident that happened last night in the coastal town of Loch Sport - in Victoria's east.
It was one of several disturbing incidents to occur across the state on New Year's Eve.
Mr Patton said the child was struck when part of a plug from one of the explosives fell outside the fallout zone.
'In addition to that as well there were some small amount of fireworks that dropped outside that fallout zone later that contacted on another person,' he said.
The safety watchdog is investigating the incident.
Fireworks displays saw several people injured across Victoria on New Year's Eve
Mr Patton said police were generally pleased with the way Victorians behaved on New Year's Eve.
Preliminary figures saw police make 59 arrests across the state, with 37 being for people being drunk.
Thefts, assualts and drug offences made up the tally.
Six people were charged at the Beyond the Valley music festival for dealing drugs in Victoria's east.
'I suppose my message is overall a fantastic New Year's Eve - everybody has came in they've enjoyed themselves ... we had a small number of people do the wrong thing. They were dealt with swiftly, so a few people were locked up. They'll wake up with sore heads.'
A child was among those injured in a fireworks display on the coastal town of Lock Sport
In other fireworks incidents, a man, aged in his 60s, was taken to The Alfred hospital in a stable condition after he was hit by fireworks in Altona Meadows just after midnight.
A man, also aged in his 60s, also suffered significant facial burns after a bonfire exploded in Yarck in the Goulburn Valley.
Ambulance Victoria responded to 1000 emergencies during New Year's Eve celebrations with calls including a serious injury at the Falls Festival in Lorne.
The festival-goer was airlifted in a critical condition after falling and hitting his head
The man, aged in his 20s, was flown to the Royal Melbourne Hospital and remains in a serious condition.
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