Australia: Police shoot knife-wielding assailant in Melbourne March 12

Event

Criminal investigations are ongoing in multiple areas of Melbourne on the morning (local time) of Thursday, March 12, after a man stabbed several people before being shot dead by police officers. The incident started at approximately 22:40 (local time) on Wednesday, March 11, near the Jolimont Railway Station when the suspect attacked an officer with a knife. The assailant fled the scene and two women were discovered with life-threatening stab wounds in a vehicle in Hawthorn. One of the victims later died from their wounds at the hospital. Another person was stabbed and killed near a tram stop in Kew around 00:15 on Thursday. Police officers responding to the scene spotted the suspect and fired their weapons while attempting to arrest him.

As of Thursday morning, several streets in Hawthorn and Kew have been closed off as police investigate the stabbings. Localized traffic disruptions are anticipated in the area, along with an increased police presence.

Advice

Individuals in Melbourne are advised to avoid the affected areas and obey all instructions issued by the local authorities.