At least 14 people have been injured after the driver of a white Suzuki SUV ploughed into pedestrians at the corner of Flinders Street and Elizabeth Street at about 4.40pm local time (5.40am GMT).
The street is Melbourne’s busiest, in the heart of the city’s business district. And the attack was outside the city’s main train station just before rush hour.
Police said: “The driver of the vehicle and a second man have been arrested and are in police custody.”
Witnesses said the white SUV showed no signs of slowing down as it hit crowds of people at the intersection near Flinders Street station.
A witness named Jim, who owns a bakery on Flinders Street, said: “[The driver] seemed to be travelling at about 50-60mph down Flinders Street in a westerly direction.”
“The intersection was full of pedestrians and he just ploughed through.
“The only thing that slowed him down was him hitting pedestrians.
“There was no braking, there was no slowing down. Whether it was targeted or whether he had a heart attack, or was drunk, I don’t know.”
Another witness said: “As [the car] approached this intersection… it just mowed everybody down, people were flying everywhere.”
Elton Hindoli, who works at an off licence in Elizabeth St, said a man who was pulled from the car appeared to be unconscious.
He said: “A girl came into the shop and she was very upset.
“She said a guy in a big car had hit about six people.
“He hit the people then crashed into the tram area in the middle of the road.”
The site of the attack is next to Federation Square, which is by the city’s Olympic Park.
A police spokesman said: “At this stage we believe it is a deliberate act. The crime scene will be in place for a considerable period of time and we are urging people who can avoid the area to avoid the area.”
Police do not yet know the motivation for the attack.
Police have closed Flinders Street between Swanston and Queen Street in both directions.
Elizabeth Street is closed between Flinders and Bourke Street and St Kilda Road is closed at the Yarra river.