At least 14 people have been injured, several of them critically, after a car ploughed into a crowd in central Melbourne in what police described as a "deliberate act".

In a terrifying incident during the pre-Christmas shopping rush, the white SUV rammed into a large number of pedestrians at high speed on the pavement outside Flinders Street railway station, one of the Australian city’s main transport hubs.

Police said the driver and another man have been arrested after what they believed "was a deliberate act". Asked if the incident was terrorism-related, Victorian Police commander Russell Barrett said: "The motivations are unknown."

Witnesses described "people flying everywhere" as the vehicle, which was travelling at a reported 60mph, "just mowed everybody down" at around 5pm local time (6am GMT) on Thursday.

Others reported that the white Suzuki SUV, which is said to have had two men inside, appeared not to slow down before it crashed into a tram stop bollard.

The bearded driver of the SUV, who witnesses said was of Middle Eastern appearance, was wrestled to the ground and handcuffed following the crash.

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/new...s-crowd-injuring-19/

quote:

Originally posted by Jelly: ......who witnesses said was of Middle Eastern appearance....

I would truly have been amazed if he'd been an Inuit.

tac

Hmmm no Blondes with Blue Eyes?
Why do we have these people in our country, Poland got it right!

Afghani

Probably a white Afghani....

Some places are not going to learn until it past the point of no return.

Guess who? But - let's not jump to any conclusions from outward appearances.

News is reporting 1) "that the driver was known to police", 2) "driver suffered from drug problems", and 3) "no links to terrorism".

So nothing to see here, move along and shut up.

Sounds like the crack FBI "Can't Find A Motive" Squad is on the scene!

If they would only outlaw trucks and SUV's, these things wouldn't happen.

quote:

Originally posted by feersum dreadnaught:
Guess who? But - let's not jump to any conclusions from outward appearances..... So nothing to see here, move along and shut up....

These are not the droids you are looking for.

The longer we ignore reality, the harder it will bite us.

The flannel throws me off. Could be a hipster.

quote:

Originally posted by BamaJeepster:
Sounds like the crack FBI "Can't Find A Motive" Squad is on the scene!

I think this is a bit outside the FBI’s jurisdiction.

quote:

Originally posted by Aeteocles:
The flannel throws me off. Could be a hipster.

I did work with an Afghani hipster in San Francisco. Looks just like this perp.

32-year old Australian citizen of Afghan descent "with history of mental illness" - so that is how the smart kids are now describing "Islamist extremism"?

Those gd Oklahoma Southern Baptists again......

What frightens me is that when you remove religion as a cause, even when it is, and just label events as mental illness (rather than evil) it could lead to unintended consequences. For instance, anyone who is of faith you do not like can be defined as mentally ill.
When working on my PhD my chair called me mentally retarded because I am a Christian. He was a hardcore atheist.
These guys may be motivated by religion or they may have been mad because they had their parking space stolen (road rage). I get mad too, but i believe in evil and fear doing evil and the ramifications to doing evil. Belief in judgement has a calming effect.

Grandma driving unto a post office because she is confused, tragic accident, take her license. These two fine young men? Do your due diligence to find the truth. then put them up to a wall, and pull the trigger.

Call evil evil.

quote:

Originally posted by BamaJeepster:
Sounds like the crack FBI "Can't Find A Motive" Squad is on the scene!

sad but so true.

---------------------------------

quote:

Originally posted by Aeteocles:
The flannel throws me off. Could be a hipster.

Yeah, I must know 50 people who dress and look like that guy, none of whom are middle eastern, much less terrorists, nor even hipsters - a grossly overused term. Jeans, flannels, and beards like that are super popular in many circles worldwide and have been for years.

This particular asshole may be a terrorist, and a Muslim from the middle east, but his outfit and look aren't necessarily indicative of it.

quote:

Originally posted by JJexp:

quote:

Originally posted by BamaJeepster:
Sounds like the crack FBI "Can't Find A Motive" Squad is on the scene!

I think this is a bit outside the FBI’s jurisdiction.

Really? I know where it happened, I was saying it sounds like they are there with their silly 'Can't find a motive' narrative that they use and stick to even when the terrorist leaves a note, screams Allah Akbar and calls 911 to tell them that they are doing it to glorify Allah.

quote:

Originally posted by BamaJeepster:

quote:

Originally posted by JJexp:

quote:

Originally posted by BamaJeepster:
Sounds like the crack FBI "Can't Find A Motive" Squad is on the scene!

I think this is a bit outside the FBI’s jurisdiction.

Really? I know where it happened, I was saying it sounds like they are there with their silly 'Can't find a motive' narrative that they use and stick to even when the terrorist leaves a note, screams Allah Akbar and calls 911 to tell them that they are doing it to glorify Allah.

Maybe I misread, but I thought this was Melbourne Australia?