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Thursday, January 19, 2017

Three dead after car hits people in Australian city of Melbourne

Three people are dead and at least 20 people have been injured after a car hit pedestrians in Australia's second-largest city of Melbourne.

Police said the car was deliberately driven into city centre crowds just before 2pm on Friday, local time.

Video footage from a witness showed a maroon car driving in circles in an intersection outside Flinders Street railway station with the driver hanging his arm out the window.

The man then drove up the pedestrian section of Bourke Street mall, deliberately hitting people, police said.

One of those killed was a young child.

Ambulance Victoria said that several of those being treated had serious injuries and Royal Children's Hospital said in a statement that they were treating four children from the scene.

Acting Commander Stuart Bateson said the situation was now "contained" and a man has been arrested.

Police confirmed in a statement that they had shot the man before he was taken into custody.

He is being treated for non-life threatening injuries.

Mr Bateson said that the incident is not believed to have been terror-related.

Police said in a statement: "It is believed police were in pursuit of a vehicle" when it "deliberately struck a number of pedestrians".

They added: "Police understand the incident is linked to a stabbing that took place in Windsor early this morning involving parties known to one another.

"Following this incident, it is alleged the same man took a woman, who is known to him, hostage in his car. She managed to escape from the car on the Bolte Bridge earlier today."

Mr Bateson added: "There is no further threat to the public at this stage."

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