Driver who crashed into Australian crowd has history of mental illness

A man with a history of mental illness injured 19 people by plowing an SUV into a crowd of Christmas shoppers in Australia on Thursday.

The incident in downtown Melbourne was considered to be deliberate but authorities did not believe there was a link to terrorism, according to Victoria Police Acting Chief Commissioner Shane Patton.

“We don’t have any intelligence or evidence to indicate there is a connection to terrorism,” Patton said.

Afghan-Australian Saeed Noori, 32, who was known to police and was undergoing mental-health treatment, sped past the Flinders Street train station and crashed into a tram stop at about 4:40 p.m. Thursday.

The victims, including four listed in critical condition, ranged in age from 4 to 83.

The 4-year-old boy suffered a serious head injury but was in stable condition, the Herald Sun reported.

An off-duty police sergeant was being hailed as a hero for capturing Noori and holding him until other officers arrived.

One witness said police “pulled [Noori] out of the car with a gun at his chest. They dragged him out . . . He looked unconscious.”

Patton said Noori, who also had a history of drug abuse, was known to police for traffic offenses and a minor assault in 2010.

“He is still in custody, under arrest for what we allege is a deliberate act,” Patton said.

Victoria state Premier Daniel Andrews said, “What has occurred on Flinders Street was an act of evil and act of cowardice at a time of year when people should be out celebrating and doing their Christmas shopping.”

With Wires