An apparent vehicle ramming attack has taken place in Melbourne, Australia.

At least 14 people have been taken to hospital after a car drove into a crowd at the intersection of Flinders Street and Elizabeth Street, in what police are describing as “a deliberate act”.

At least six, including a “preschool-aged girl” with serious head injuries, are reported to be in critical condition.

“He has gone straight through the red light at pace and it was bang, bang, bang. It was just one after the other,” said one eyewitness.

“We could hear this noise, as we looked left, we saw this white car, it just mowed everybody down,” added another.

“People are flying everywhere. We heard thump, thump.”

https://twitter.com/RitaPanahi/status/943736450725527552

The driver of the vehicle and another man have been arrested.

Photographs and video circulating on news outlets and social media appear to show police detaining two bearded men of Middle Eastern or South Asian appearance at the scene, although a motive has not been confirmed.

Victoria Police are urging any members of the public with mobile phone or other footage which might help with their investigation to upload it to their public evidence submission website.

Eyewitnesses are asked to attend the Spencer Street Police Complex at 313 Spencer to give statements.

As many as 19 people have been injured after a car drove into a crowd in central Melbourne pic.twitter.com/bn9abCILdY — Sky News (@SkyNews) December 21, 2017

“Police are continuing to investigate an incident where a car has collided with a number of pedestrians in the Melbourne CBD this afternoon,” the force said in an official statement.

“At this time police believe this is a deliberate act, however we do not yet know the motivation and it is only very early in the investigation.

“Detectives from Crime Command currently have primacy of the investigation.

“Police and emergency services remain on the scene and will do for the foreseeable future.

“The crime scene is active and will remain in place for some time. We urge people who can avoid the area, to avoid the area.”

This story is developing…

Follow Jack Montgomery on Twitter: @JackBMontgomery