Emergency services tend to pedestrians outside of Flinders St Station who had been hit by a 4WD car. Credit: Nine News
More than a dozen people have been injured after pedestrians were mown down by a car near the corner of Flinders and Elizabeth streets in Melbourne's CBD shortly before 5pm on Thursday.
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Here's what we know so far.
- At 4.41pm a white 4WD struck a number of pedestrians at the intersection of Flinders and Elizabeth Street.
- The driver is Saeed Noori, a 32-year-old Australian citizen of Afghan descent.
- Twenty people were injured, including Mr Noori, when pedestrians were hit at the busy intersection including some waiting at a tram stop.
- Police believe the man drove down the tram tracks before ploughing into a tram stop on the other side.
- The driver of the car was arrested by an off-duty male police officer who was also among the injured.
- Three of the injured were in a critical condition on Friday afternoon. Three had been discharged from hospital.
- The driver was known to police in relation to minor traffic offences and a minor assault in 2010. Police say he was alone in the car.
- The driver told investigating officers of voices, dreams and what he perceived as mistreatment of Muslims. Victoria Police was hoping to conduct a formal interview on Friday.
- The officer sustained shoulder and hand injuries during the arrest and has been conveyed to hospital. Acting commissioner Shane Patton said he was a sergeant and his actions during the incident were 'heroic'. He will have surgery today.
- A 24-year-old man was detained at the scene after he was seen filming the incident on a phone. He was also allegedly carrying a bag that contained knives. Police say he has no links to the incident. He will be charged on summons with drugs and weapons offences and has been released.
- A preschool-aged child is among the injured and has been taken to the Royal Children's Hospital in a serious, but not critical, condition with head injuries.
- The driver is yet to be interviewed by police.
- The car was registered to a family member and police said was not stolen.
- Victoria Police Commander Russell Barrett said police believe the incident was a deliberate act. "We believe based on what we've seen, it is a deliberate act. It is too early in the investigation to discuss motivation," Commander Barrett said. "We understand this has been a very traumatic event and there will be witnesses, victims and family members affected," he said.
- Premier Daniel Andrews told the media conference that the attack was an "act of evil and an act of cowardice".
- The area around the scene was reopened to vehicular and foot traffic about 2am Friday.
- Anyone who witnessed the incident is urged to attend the Spencer Street Police Complex at 313 Spencer to provide their details and a statement or contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.
- Welfare services will also be there to provide further support.
- If members of the public have video footage or images which may assist police with their investigation, they are encouraged to upload them here: http://australiauploadserviceweb.cloudapp.net
- If you are concerned about loved ones, please try contacting them directly in the first instance.
- For further information and support, please contact the Victims Support Line on 1800 819 817.