The girl was flown to hospital after being rescued from the river beneath the bridge about 9.15am. Homicide squad Detective Inspector Steve Clark said the alleged murder occurred at 9.10am - peak travel time - on the city-bound side of the bridge, close to the top.

It allegedly took place so quickly "no one had the opportunity to intervene", he said. "He's got straight out of the car and taken the young girl and walked to the edge of the bridge, so that would have happened in a matter of seconds," Detective Inspector Clark said. "Fortunately, the water police were here within 10 minutes so she was given medical attention fairly quickly.

"It's a dreadful set of circumstances and often you think you've seen it all and you haven't." A man believed to be the father of the girl was arrested outside the Commonwealth Law Courts building at the corner of La Trobe and William streets about 10.30am.



A caller to Radio 3AW said he saw four or five police officers, including one with his gun drawn, surround a man on the ground outside the court building. Police and paramedics were called to the courts building after staff noticed the man's "distressed state". 'Had enough'



A member of the court's staff said the man was crying and looked like "he'd had enough". He had two other children, aged 6 and 8, with him and witnesses said he begged security guards to "take my kids".

The man was seen to approach court security guards and ask them: "Can you take my kids for me?" About half-an-hour later, the couple saw the arrival of a woman they believed to be the mother of the two boys, who subsequently took them away. Another witness saw four police officers, two of them holding evidence bags, lead the handcuffed man to a waiting divisional van.

Shaking violently The man, who she described as balding, was "shaking violently".



Detective Inspector Clark urged witnesses to phone Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000. - with Kate Hagan, Andrea Petrie and Erdem Koch.

* Support is available for anyone who may be distressed by calling SANE Helpline 1800 18 7263; Lifeline 131 114; Salvo Crisis Line - 9331 2000; beyondblue 1300 22 46 36.