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A person has died and two others are injured after a knife-wielding man unleashed an attack in Melbourne’s Bourke Street on Friday afternoon.
Police shot the man when he approached officers swinging the knife. He has since died in hospital.
Moments earlier, a ute burst into flames on the busy CBD strip about 4.20pm.
“Police shot the male in the chest and he is now in a critical condition under guard in hospital,” Superintendent David Clayton told media following the incident.
“Three people have been stabbed, unfortunately, one is deceased at the scene, two other victims are currently in hospital.”
At a press conference on Friday evening, Chief Commissioner Graham Ashton confirmed the gunman had died in hospital, succumbing to his injuries about half an hour after his arrival.
He also confirmed police are treating it as a terror incident. He said the attacker was a “person of interest” and was known to police before.
He said the man had moved to Australia from Somalia in the 90s.
The car burst into flames outside Bourke Street Mall. Source: Twitter/ Meegan May
“For operational reasons, we now have the Counter-Terrorism command and homicide squad dealing with this matter,” he said.
One witness told the ABC the deceased appeared in his 50s or 60s. Chief Commissioner confirmed the three stabbed were all male.
Footage from the scene appears to show the man approach officers with the blade.
A witness told 3AW they saw a pedestrian struck by the vehicle while another said her friends had seen someone with a knife in the area and she’d been told “he’d stabbed a security guard”.
Two men shopping in the area told the ABC they saw a man throw what they thought to be a bomb into his car.
Footage shows a man wielding a knife. Source: 7News
The area has since been cordoned off by the bomb squad.
Chief Commissioner Graham Ashton confirmed there were gas canisters present inside the man’s ute.
Victoria police say the man was arrested at the scene and was taken to hospital under police guard in a critical condition.
Police are not looking for anyone further at this early stage.
Witnesses have described hearing a loud bang during the incident. It is unknown whether it came from the vehicle or was police gun fire.
Emergency services were called to a car fire the corner of Swanston and Bourke streets about 4.20pm.
It was brought under control within about five minutes, a Metropolitan Fire Brigade spokeswoman said.
Footage shows the man approach police with a knife. Source: 7News
An ambulance can be seen at the scene. Source: Kenny Cheng/ Supplied
The busy area has been cordoned off as crowds watch on. Source: 7News
Ambulance Victoria said paramedics assessed three people at the scene, one which was later announced dead shortly after.
Two others were taken to hospital, one with a head injury. Their conditions are not yet known.
Genders and ages of the patients are not yet known.
The ute was quickly extinguished at the scene. Source: Getty
Members of the public are asked to avoid the area.
Witnesses say pedestrians ran for cover, hiding in nearby stores. The public warning system was utilised for the first time during the incident.
Superintendent Clayton urged members of the public to submit any footage or images of the incident to Victoria Police’s Facebook page.
Police are responding to an incident on Bourke Street. Members of the public are asked to avoid the area. More information will be provided when it comes to hand.
— Victoria Police (@VictoriaPolice) November 9, 2018
Breaking news: vision of police confronted by large man who appeared to be wielding a knife. Car in flames in Bourke St. #7NewsMelb
— Brendan Donohoe (@BrendanDonohoe7) November 9, 2018
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