Bomb squad investigates car after armed man drove wildly through CBD

Police have arrested an armed man dressed in combat gear after a wild drive through Melbourne’s CBD on Saturday morning.

Witnesses tried to stop the car, a green Toyota Rav4, by throwing a bike in its path just before 8am.

Witnesses capture terrifying CBD rampage

A man wearing black combat gear holds up some of Melbourne’s busiest city streets in a stand-off with police.

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Witnesses capture terrifying CBD rampage

A man wearing black combat gear holds up some of Melbourne’s busiest city streets in a stand-off with police.

Videos from witnessess appear to show the two police officers who arrived at the scene within minutes attempting to pepper spray the man – but his helmet and strong winds made the effort to subdue him infective.

After one officer tripped and fell backwards, the man lunged at him with what appeared to be a large baton, prompting the Critical Incident Response Team to gang tackle and taser the man, before arresting him.

The Critical Incident Response Team tasered the man, who is believed to be in his teens, before arresting him. He was dressed in an army uniform and was armed with what police would only describe as an “implement”.

Victoria Police Acting Superintendent Wayne Newman said it was believed the man has a history of mental illness and that the incident was not terror-related.

“This behaviour is concerning at any time of the year, but I am very confident that it was a mental heath issue,” Assistant Sergeant Newman said.

“We are working through his identity.”

A Twitter user posted this video of footage purportedly showing the suspect at the intersection of Flinders and Swanston streets.

@abcnewsMelb Footage of the unknown person who just ran amok out the front of Flinders pic.twitter.com/O7j7SObtX0

— isaac (@isaacbeath)

September 29, 2017

Police have said they do not know if the driver was intending to harm pedestrians. Witnesses have been reported as saying that the man appeared to be trying to hit people.

“He was certainly armed with a weapon … but I have no information that he was actually trying to attack pedestrians,” Superintendent Newman said.

The man was wearing a helmet and backpack.

Witnesses have told the ABC that the man appeared to be goading the police to “come for him”.

Jolon Cooke was working for a company setting up equipment for the grand final in Federation Square, when he said the man in the car drove at him.

“He swerved and tried to run me over,” Mr Cooke told the ABC.

“He dead set tried to kill me. He came out of the car with a black baton, full head-to-toe black military gear, took a backpack out of the car to simulate a bomb and then he was telling the cops to come for him.”

Fabian Wright, who was staffing a promotional stall in front of Federation Square, said the man was driving “up and down” Swanston Street and Flinders Street, aiming for people.

“[I saw] a guy driving erratically, Flinders Street, Swanston Street – every direction,” Mr Wright said. “Up and down, skidding the car, up and down skidding the car.”

When asked if he was trying to attack people, Mr Wright said: “Yes, with his car. When he was driving, he was aiming for people … swerving into people.

“People were screaming.”

Mr Wright said the man continued for about five minutes before coming to a stop in the middle of the Flinders Street and Swanston Street intersection.

“He got out of the car and attacked the police … with a steel baton,” Mr Wright said. “Then they tasered him.”

He said it took about six to eight police officers to subdue the man.

The RAV4 vehicle being towed away from the scene at corner of Flinders Street and Elizabeth Street, Melbourne Police closed off after a man dressed in army gear drove erratically at intersection of Flinders Street and Swanston Street early this morning before being intercepted by Police on the day of the 2017 AFL Grand Final in Melbourne PHOTO Danie Sprague The Sunday Age 30th September 2017

The RAV4 vehicle being towed away from the scene. Photo: Danie Sprague

Superintendent Newman praised members of the community who threw bicycles in the path of the driver, but said police encouraged Melburnians to call triple zero in that situation.

“Victorians won’t stand by idly,” he said.

Superintendent Newman said police responded to triple zero calls made by the public within minutes.

“Because of the actual time of the morning I don’t think there was a lot of pedestrian traffic. I don’t think he posed a great threat,” he said.

He said the man is currently being assessed by hospital staff.

The bomb response unit was at the scene and the area is cordoned off. Police are urging people to avoid the area and football fans are being directed to move away.

Article source: http://smh.com.au/afl/richmond-tigers/afl-grand-final-2017-tigers-fans-don-temporary-tattoos-and-minimohawks-in-tribute-to-dustin-martin-20170928-gyqoii.html

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