Earlier today a van plowed into a crowd of Christmas shoppers in Melbourne, Australia. As best we know, about 19 persons were injured. Thus far there are no fatalities but it certainly wasn’t for a lack of trying.
Police say a man accused of deliberately crashing a car into pedestrians outside Melbourne’s Flinders Street train station, sending 19 people to hospital and creating peak-hour chaos, has a history of assault, drug use and mental health issues.
Police said the driver was a 32-year-old Australian citizen of Afghan descent, and was known to police, but was not on bail at the time of the incident.
…
“We don’t at this time have any evidence or any intelligence to indicate there’s a connection with terrorism,” [Acting Chief Commissioner Shane Patton] said.However, he said they would continue to work with the Counter-terrorism Command to ensure there was no connection and ongoing threat.
A second man, 24, was seen filming the incident and was found to be carrying a bag with knifes in it.
He was also arrested, but police believe he had no links to the incident. He is still assisting police with their inquiries.
A car plows into a busy sidewalk in Melbourne, Australia, injuring more than a dozen people, authorities say. https://t.co/JJacUrSzRl pic.twitter.com/dKCfPLFQ4F
— USA TODAY (@USATODAY) December 21, 2017
Dramatic moment of Melbourne suspect's arrest and the immediate aftermath pic.twitter.com/MxMA24qfXG
— Ruptly (@Ruptly) December 21, 2017
Melbourne police update:
– No evidence yet to suggest terror link
– Driver was Australian citizen of Afghan descent
– Suspect had history of drug use and mental health problems
– Second man arrested near scene had knives in baghttps://t.co/2DLNEYCra7— BBC Breaking News (@BBCBreaking) December 21, 2017
Nothing to see here, folks. Move along.
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