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Police at the scene after the incident in Melbourne David Clough/PA Wire/PA Images

Irish woman in stable condition after being injured in Melbourne car attack

Of the 20 people injured, three remain in a critical condition.

Updated 9am 

THE IRISH WOMAN who was injured when a car was driven into pedestrians in Melbourne, Australia yesterday is in a stable condition.

Victoria Police are treating the incident, in which a man drove a car up tram tracks before veering into a large group of people, as a deliberate act.

The driver, a 32-year-old Australian citizen of Afghan descent, was arrested at the scene. Speaking to reporters yesterday, Victoria’s acting Police Commissioner Shane Patton said the man has a history of drug use and is understood to be receiving treatment for a mental illness.

An investigation into the incident – which happened in downtown Melbourne at a busy intersection at around 4.45pm local time (5.45am Irish time) yesterday – is ongoing.

The man said he carried out the attack to avenge “mistreatment of Muslims”, authorities said today, adding that they had found no link to any terrorist group.

Speaking at a press conference, Australian Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull called the incident “a despicable and cowardly act”.

“To be attacked like this, in the middle of one of our great cities, is a shocking event, a shocking crime. He has said, in a number of what the police are describing as utterings, that he attributed his actions to perceived mistreatment of Muslims.

“But at this stage, because investigations are continuing, apart from that statement, there are no known links to any political issues, or any links to extremist groups, and I am advised at the moment that no terrorism link has been identified.”

Three people critical 

In a statement released today, police said 20 people presented to hospital yesterday and 18 were admitted. Currently, four people have been discharged and 14 people remain in hospital – three of which are in a critical condition.

Nine of the victims are overseas nationals including people from South Korea, China, Italy, India, Venezuela, Ireland and New Zealand:

  • 25-year-old female Irish national living in Caulfield is stable
  • 4-year-old male South Korean national living in Hoppers Crossing is stable
  • 83-year-old male from Northcote in a critical condition
  • 67-year-old male South Korean national in a critical condition
  • 61-year-old male South Korean national in a critical condition
  • 40-year-old male Venezuelan national from Elwood is serious but stable
  • 47-year-old female from Richmond is stable
  • 45-year-old male Indian national is stable
  • 36-year-old female from Mentone is stable
  • 35-year-old female from Mernda is stable
  • 30-year old female from Craigieburn is stable
  • 24-year-old male Chinese national is stable
  • 33-year-old female from Seaford has been discharged
  • 17-year-old male Brunswick East has been discharged
  • 43-year-old male New Zealand national living in Heathmont has been discharged
  • 25-year-old male Italian national has been discharged
  • 58-year-old female from Coburg attended hospital but was not admitted
  • 25-year old female from Reservoir attended hospital but was not admitted

The 32-year-old man alleged to be the driver has been released from hospital and is currently in police custody. He lives in the Melbourne suburb of Heidelberg West.

Crime Department detectives will interview him once he has been medically cleared, police said.

The off-duty police member who arrested the driver remains in hospital. He has undergone surgery and is stable.

A second man, 24, who was filming the incident was also arrested by police. Patton said this man was in possession of a bag with three knives in it.

Today police have confirmed that this man “was not involved or connected with the initial incident, has been interviewed and released”. He is expected to be charged over possessing cannabis and a controlled weapon. These offences are not linked to the initial incident.

Isolated incident 

Victoria Police believe this was an isolated incident and said: “The community can be assured that we are doing everything we can to keep the community safe.

The community can expect to see an increased police presence at a number of events today and at major events in coming weeks.

“We understand this incident has been very traumatising for witnesses, victims and families involved.”

Police have urged witnesses to visit their local police station or contact Crime Stoppers to submit information anonymously. People who have footage or images of the incident have been asked to upload them here.

Contains reporting from © AFP 2017

Read: ‘No evidence to suggest terrorism’ after car is driven into crowd in Melbourne

Read: Irish person injured by car driven into crowd on busy street in Melbourne

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54 Comments
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    Mute Thought for Food
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    Dec 22nd 2017, 7:42 AM

    Why are you referring to this as an “incident”? The police are very clear on the subject that it was a deliberate attack.

    It wouldn’t happen to be the fact that the attacker was Afghani in ethnicity by any chance?

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    Mute Tom Tom
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    Dec 22nd 2017, 7:49 AM

    @Thought for Food: Read paragraph two

    22
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    Mute Anthony Byrne
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    Dec 22nd 2017, 7:53 AM

    @Thought for Food: an “incident” is simply ‘something that happened’ …

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    Mute Thought for Food
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    Dec 22nd 2017, 7:55 AM

    @Anthony Byrne:

    So why do we refer to school shootings in the US by people with mental health issues as an attack, but when a car is used it’s demoted to an ‘incident’?

    48
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    Mute Gulliver Foyle
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    Dec 22nd 2017, 8:20 AM

    @Thought for Food: maybe Australians understand English better than you. Attack is a military term (coming from the Latin to join the battle). This incident was a perfect example of integration where the guy (who happened to be Afghani) was just a run of the mill, drug using, Australian with mental health issues who had, er, an incident and not a Qur’an touting crusader.

    25
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    Mute RU 486 SAVES LIVES
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    Dec 22nd 2017, 8:21 AM

    @Thought for Food: The ‘acting’ Lord Mayor of Melbourne said that it was an ‘attack’.Take some deep breaths and relax.

    11
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    Mute Christian White
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    Dec 22nd 2017, 8:26 AM

    @Thought for Food:

    “Accused Flinders Street driver says ‘poor treatment of Muslims’ motivated him”

    https://au.news.yahoo.com/a/38383800/melbourne-attack-flinders-st-driver-motivated-by-muslim-treatment/

    35
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    Mute Cian O Donoghue
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    Dec 22nd 2017, 8:28 AM

    @Christian White: He also said he heard voices. Why didnt you quote that bit i wonder?

    15
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    Mute KingBen
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    Dec 22nd 2017, 8:42 AM

    @Gulliver Foyle: he was no Australian.

    37
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    Mute RU 486 SAVES LIVES
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    Dec 22nd 2017, 9:00 AM

    @KingBen: You’re right! He wasn’t an aboriginal .

    9
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    Mute KingBen
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    Dec 22nd 2017, 9:14 AM

    @RU 486 SAVES LIVES: boom Boom…comic genius.

    9
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    Mute johnp
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    Dec 22nd 2017, 10:23 AM

    @Gulliver Foyle: he made a claim that he did it because of the treatment of Muslims in Australia

    23
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    Mute Neal Ireland Hello.
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    Dec 22nd 2017, 11:54 AM

    @Thought for Food: Anything that happened, whether caused deliberately or otherwise, can correctly be called “an incident”. This is matter of basic English and not a conspiracy.

    3
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    Mute Remy
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    Dec 22nd 2017, 12:02 PM

    @Thought for Food:

    A Muslim deliberately drives into a crowd of people,
    Another films & waits with a bag full of knives,
    Both are arrested,
    Police determine it’s “Mental illness”
    I wonder if they actually think we believe them.

    25
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    Mute Fiona Fitzgerald
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    Dec 22nd 2017, 1:02 PM

    @Remy: Will they be healthy enough to pay all those people’s medical bills, I wonder?

    3
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    Mute Fiona Fitzgerald
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    Dec 22nd 2017, 1:14 PM

    All through the Troubles, it was usual to read about damage from incidents. And objects. It’s called daily news reporting. And when they have more information, they’ll use more specific nouns. What’s your hurry? Are you concerned about the people run over? They were all immigrants to Australia too.

    1
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    Mute Bobby tolster
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    Dec 22nd 2017, 5:46 PM

    @Tom Tom: mental illness=I want to kill the infidel.

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    Mute Horace
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    Dec 22nd 2017, 8:11 AM

    I’m getting a bit sick and tired of the covering up of these attacks from liberal media like the Journal and the establishment in order to make it seem like everything is fine and dandy. It’s not. Islamic savages are murdering innocent westerners on our streets and they are NOT incidents. These are terrorist murderers.

    Hope the woman is okay and can get on with her life.

    191
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    Mute Mark Mcloughlin
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    Dec 22nd 2017, 9:12 AM

    @Horace: Well said!

    66
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    Mute Brinster
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    Dec 22nd 2017, 10:11 AM

    @Horace:

    Head over to Breitbart so, Horace.

    You don’t have to be here.

    You don’t have to comment.

    You can get your news from a source that hates people of different religions just as much as you do.

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    Mute Barry Barrison
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    Dec 22nd 2017, 10:38 AM

    @Horace: right…so when the west blows the crap out of Islamic countries and kills countless innocent folk there and u don’t hear about it…can I ask what the difference is??? Innocent people bring big targeted..hospitals getting blown to pieces. While I don’t agree with what this chap did…if my family was blown up for no good reason I can see the logic behind his decision

    7
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    Mute Brendan Cooney
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    Dec 22nd 2017, 10:41 AM

    @Horace: so the truth is hurting you? Tough.

    3
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    Mute Horace
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    Dec 22nd 2017, 11:22 AM

    @Barry Barrison: You sound like a terrorist yourself with that sort of logic. Carry on.

    20
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    Mute Horace
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    Dec 22nd 2017, 11:23 AM

    @Brinster: Nice attempt at deflection. 2/10 Must try harder

    21
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    Mute Ronan Sexton
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    Dec 22nd 2017, 12:00 PM

    @Barry Barrison: I don’t seem to remember any Australian army invading any Islamic country lately to justify the actions of these primitive idiots. Maybe you can jog my memory? No? Just another half wit apologist then.

    27
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    Mute Remy
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    Dec 22nd 2017, 12:41 PM

    @Brinster:

    Why Breitbart, go to the original texts.
    http://corpus.quran.com/translation.jsp?chapter=8&verse=12

    15
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    Mute Bobby tolster
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    Dec 22nd 2017, 5:45 PM

    @Brinster: so let me get this correct your actually trying to tell @horace he’s a racist when the incident involved a Muslim using a car to preform Jihad on a group of innocent strangers.
    Your part of the problem with this world ya giant bag of d**k tips.

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    Mute Christian White
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    Dec 22nd 2017, 8:25 AM

    This storyis totally inaccurate. Police update last night confirmed this was a terror attack:

    “Accused Flinders Street driver says ‘poor treatment of Muslims’ motivated him”

    https://au.news.yahoo.com/a/38383800/melbourne-attack-flinders-st-driver-motivated-by-muslim-treatment/

    106
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    Mute Cian O Donoghue
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    Dec 22nd 2017, 8:29 AM

    @Christian White: And again. You didnt quote that he hears voices. Why not?

    17
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    Mute Christian White
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    Dec 22nd 2017, 8:30 AM

    Additional info, attacker is not “Australian of Afghan Descent”, he is an Afghan refugee who entered the country in 2004:

    “The 32-year-old Afghan refugee accused man came to Australia via a refugee program in 2004.”

    http://www.news.com.au/national/breaking-news/melbourne-attack-driver-was-a-refugee/news-story/ef15e4339155c7122569c12bbab8d5a2

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    Mute BrianMcB
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    Dec 22nd 2017, 10:15 AM

    @Cian O Donoghue: The voice of ISIS, Jemaah Islamiyah or Allah or all three?

    25
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    Mute whynotme2017
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    Dec 22nd 2017, 12:22 PM

    @Christian Black Too : You wouldn’t mind showing us that video link,of where the police commissioner says that it is a terrorist attack?

    1
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    Mute Cian O Donoghue
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    Dec 22nd 2017, 6:20 PM

    @Christian White: but police can find no terrorist links yet and say there is nothing to indicate the event was planned. From that article.

    1
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    Mute john bennett
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    Dec 22nd 2017, 10:18 AM

    There have been many waves of migration to australia, from europe from vietnam even from lebanon yet it is only the recent ones from afghanistan, pakistan and north africa that are causing the problems and terrorist attacks, go figure

    61
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    Mute Horace
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    Dec 22nd 2017, 9:09 AM

    Title needs to be changed. Disgraceful fake news from the Journal.

    76
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    Mute Brinster
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    Dec 22nd 2017, 10:58 AM

    @Chip Lonergan:

    Yeah, re-reading it now it is a bit too subtle.

    10
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    Mute Horace
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    Dec 22nd 2017, 11:25 AM

    @Brinster: Why do you hate all Muslims? The vast majority are just normal people. Disgraceful comment tbh

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    Mute Neal Ireland Hello.
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    Dec 22nd 2017, 11:56 AM

    @Horace: I don’t like this news, therefore it must be fake.

    3
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    Mute Mark Mcloughlin
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    Dec 22nd 2017, 9:13 AM

    “incident” ? I think the words you are looking for is terrorist attack you scuts lol

    69
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    Mute whynotme2017
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    Dec 22nd 2017, 9:35 AM

    @Mark Mcloughlin: Are you a “reporter” from Breitfart news ? lols

    3
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    Mute Mark Mcloughlin
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    Dec 22nd 2017, 12:30 PM

    @whynotme2017: I never mentioned the word reporter so why are you putting that word in inverted commas? “Breitfart” you are the biggest saddo haha

    10
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    Mute RU 486 SAVES LIVES
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    Dec 22nd 2017, 7:53 AM

    Poor Thoughtless,he so wants this to be a ‘terrorist’ attack.But it’s looking like the guy has a history of serious drug and mental health issues..

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    Mute Thought for Food
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    Dec 22nd 2017, 7:58 AM

    @RU 486 SAVES LIVES:

    The 9/11 terrorists drank, smoked, did drugs and frequented hookers before their attack. The Quran specifies that Martyrs will have their sins abolished.

    The presence of mental health issues or drug use do not exclude terrorism.

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    Mute RU 486 SAVES LIVES
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    Dec 22nd 2017, 8:04 AM

    Good morning, Thoughtless .Thanks for the cool story,bro!

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    Mute Iain MacLaren
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    Dec 22nd 2017, 10:15 AM

    some of the comments on here are ridiculous, unhelpful, and inappropriate macho-posturing. What counts is that someone tried to kill and injure people. How you label it is political. If someone does a mass shooting in the US, it rarely is described in the same way as some here have suggested this incident be. And what of wars in foreign countries, of drone strikes, of executions? Labels to justify whatever political standpoint you have taken. I prefer to condemn all killings, whether in the name of the state, a religion, ideology, or pure personal hatred.

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