3 Dead, 20 Injured After Car Drives Through Pedestrians in Australia: Police

Police say they have a suspect in custody.

ByABC News
January 20, 2017, 12:35 AM

— -- Police have apprehended a man they say deliberately drove into a crowd of pedestrians in one of Australia’s largest cities, killing three people and injuring at least 20.

“There is no further danger to the public,” Victoria Police Acting Commander Stuart Bateson said in a statement on Friday. “We do not believe this is ‘counter-terror’ related.”

The man drove a vehicle through "a number of pedestrians" on Bourke Street Mall in downtown Melbourne at just before 2 p.m. Friday local time, the Victoria Police Department said on Twitter. The exact circumstances surrounding the incident have yet to be determined, but police believe that it may be connected to an earlier stabbing.

Bateson said a man was seen driving in circles in downtown Melbourne before he turned onto Bourke Street Mall, a pedestrian-only road, and then continued onto a sidewalk, according to The Associated Press.

Footage shot by a helicopter showed authorities standing near the area where the incident occurred, The AP reported.

Officers could be seen standing over a man lying on the sidewalk with his hands apparently handcuffed behind his back, according to The AP. Police could also be seen examining the car apparently involved in the incident, The AP reported.

The Australian Open tennis championship, which is currently being held in the city, was not affected, police said.

The area has been closed off amid the ongoing investigation.

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