‘Act of evil’: Afghan immigrant, 32, plowed an SUV into pedestrians during Christmas rush hour in Australia leaving 19 injured – including a toddler
A 32-year-old man of Afghan descent was arrested after driving a Suzuki SUV through Melbourne crowds
The driver was known to police and has a history of drug use, mental health issues and criminal history
The 32-year-old acted alone, driving a white SUV into crowds of pedestrians near to Flinders Street Station
19 people are in hospital, four are critical and one young child with serious head injuries is stable
A second 24-year-old man was arrested but police believe he has no links with the incident
Witnesses described seeing the car run a red light and hurtle towards the crowds, hitting a tram stop bollard
One witness said: ‘It just mowed everybody down, people were flying everywhere’
The incident comes almost a year after the Bourke Street Mall rampage which brought the CBD to a standstill
By EMILY PIDGEON and DANIEL PIOTROWSKI
DAILYMAIL.COM
21 December 2017
More than a dozen pedestrians, including a toddler, have been injured with four fighting for life in hospital after a car ‘deliberately’ ploughed into rush hour crowds in the heart of Melbourne.
A white Suzuki SUV with p-plates, driven by 32-year-old man of Afghan descent, who The Herald Sun have identified as Saeed Noori, crashed into a large group of commuters and shoppers at the corner of Melbourne’s busy Elizabeth Street and Flinders Street at 4.41pm on Thursday.
The 32-year-old lone wolf driver was known to police and was arrested at the scene.
The driver, who is an Australian citizen, is under police guard at hospital with shoulder and hand injuries.
Victoria Police said the driver has a history of drug use, criminal history with a minor assault in 2010 and is on a mental health plan.
A second 24-year-old man, who had a bag of three knives, was arrested but police believe he had no link to the incident.
‘Clarity on the second offender that is in custody, it has not yet been determined whether he was involved, and it is quite probable he was not,’ Acting Commissioner Shane Patton said.
The 24-year-old man was seen filming the rampage.
The crash injured 19 people, including the driver and an off duty police officer and four people are in a critical condition while a four-year-old boy was left with serious head injuries but is in a stable condition.
A 25-year-old man, 40-year-old man, 43-year-old man, 45-year-old man, 83-year-old man, two 25-year-old women, 30-year-old woman, 35-year-old woman, 47-year-old woman and a 58-year-old woman were some of the victims injured in the rampage, according to police.
Another three men and two women were injured but their ages are unknown.
The Rest…HERE
