Four people are dead after a driver mowed down pedestrians in Melbourne’s central business district, ending a crime rampage of almost 12 hours.
Dimitrious ‘Jimmy’ Gargasoulas has been named by local media as the man at the wheel of the car that ‘deliberately’ drove at pedestrians.
At least four people are dead including a 10-year-old child with a further five people in critical conditions, including a three-month-old baby and children aged two, nine and 12, Sky News Australia reports.
The 26-year-old was fleeing the police after stabbing his brother and later took a woman hostage, according to the New York Times.
A video of Gargasoulas doing burnouts in the city before the attack has since been released:
Police locked down the area after the incident, which occurred at midday in the busy Bourke Street shopping mall in central Melbourne, as the city was hosting the Australian Open tennis tournament.
More than 20 people in total were injured in the attacks, which police say are not terror-related.
Police commissioner Graham Ashton said Gargasoulas was well known to police, particularly in recent days, and was charged last weekend.
He has a history of violence as well as drug-related and mental health issues officials said.
Before the attack, the 26-year-old posted a bizarre message about the illuminati:
His Facebook profile features several recent rants at police, religion, scientology and the illuminati.
As of Friday night local time, Gargasoulas was under police guard in hospital.
Our thoughts go out to everyone affected by this tragedy.
