There has been what appears to be an attack by car in Melbourne, with the current toll at three dead and about twenty injured. It is not thought to be a terror attack.
Sky News: Three pedestrians killed by car in Melbourne
Three people are dead and many others injured after a man deliberately drove into a crowd in Melbourne’s Bourke St mall.
Up to 20 others are injured and a man has been arrested after a car struck pedestrians at the Elizabeth St end of the mall.
Victoria Police say they have arrested a suspect and that the indicent is thought to be connected to a stabbing earlier on Friday.
Officers told the media that the incident is not thought to be terrorism-related.
Attacks like this are horrific no matter who carries them out and no matter what their motive is.
UPDATE: The suspect has been shot and is in hospital with non-life threatening injuries
The incident was related to a stabbing in the Melbourne suburb of Windsor earlier today that left the man’s brother in a critical condition, police said.
Police say following the Windsor stabbing, the man took a woman who is known to him hostage, but she managed to escape.
Your NZ 
Kitty Catkin
/ 20th January 2017The video has been posted-what good taste and sensitivity, I DON’T think.
Pete George
/ 20th January 2017Police pursuits – whether they should or shouldn’t – could become an issue here.
Missy
/ 21st January 2017I am not sure it was an attack as such, looking at the map showing the sequence of events, and reading the history of his violence and drug addiction, I wouldn’t be surprised to find out he was high and just on the run from the cops after stabbing his brother early Friday morning. He just happened to turn into Bourke St pedestrian Mall, which is how the tragedy occurred.
I am in no way excusing him, or saying it was an accident – this tragedy is the result of his illegal activities, but I would also be surprised if he set out to attack random pedestrians with his vehicle. He deserves to have the book thrown at him.
Brown
/ 21st January 2017Not an attack in the usual sense but with his record one could ask what he was doing at large (apart from drugs and killing people). In my view if the words “dangerous” and “should not be approached” are in a probation or parole report of a violent individual the person being talked about should not be at large.
Conspiratoor
/ 21st January 2017A close friend told said Gargasoulas’ rantings were driven by heavy use of the drug ice, and that he had recently converted to Islam.
‘He was a great guy but ice destroyed him. Then he converted to Muslim and changed very quickly.
Alan Wilkinson
/ 21st January 2017Link?