Article content

SYDNEY — A white sport utility vehicle drove into a busy downtown intersection packed with pedestrians in the Australian city of Melbourne, injuring at least 19 people, some critically, and raising fears of a terrorist attack.

Police named a 32-year-old man of Afghan descent with history of mental health issues as the driver and said it was a “deliberate act,” but declined to say there were terrorist motivations.

We apologize, but this video has failed to load.

tap here to see other videos from our team. Try refreshing your browser, or Car barrels into busy Melbourne intersection filled with Christmas shoppers, 19 injured Back to video

“We don’t have any intelligence or evidence to indicate this is connected to terrorism,” said acting police chief Shane Patton, adding that there did not appear to be a need to raise the threat level.

A second man seen filming the incident was arrested after a search revealed several knives on his person, but Patton added that there now appeared to be nothing linking the two men.

Witnesses said the white Suzuki didn’t appear to brake as it plowed through one of the main intersections in Australia’s second-largest city, full of Christmas shoppers and commuters heading home. It finally crashed into a tram stop and came to a halt.