Attack in Melbourne: A man arrested after a fire and stabbings

A man was arrested after burning a car and stabbed three people – one deadly – in central Melbourne, Australia.

The attacker was shot dead by police after clashing with police on a busy street in the city, authorities said. He was detained in critical condition.

Both survivors were taken to hospital – one in a suspected critical state.

Police said they "were not looking for anyone at this early stage".

It was too early to tell if the incident was related to terrorism, they said.

The officers were first called to report a car fire near Bourke Street, a busy artery, around 4:20 pm local time (05:20 GMT).

"When they got out of the car, they were confronted with a man wielding a knife and threatening them," Superintendent David Clayton said at a press conference.

"At the same time, passersby were shouting that members of the public had been stabbed."

Police said the scene had been cordoned off and that she was "secure" by a bomb intervention unit.

The images circulating on social media show a vehicle on fire, which seems to be crushed against storefronts.

Police and Prime Minister Daniel Andrews have asked people to avoid the scene.