Melbourne car attack

This item appears on page 17 of the March 2017 issue.

A man deliberately drove his car into pedestrians at the Bourke Street Mall in central Melbourne, Australia, on Jan. 20, killing five people and injuring 15 others. Police shot and injured the driver to end the attack.

Police have said that the incident was not a terrorist attack. The driver was known to police and was wanted on suspicion of stabbing his brother that morning. Police had spotted him before the mall attack, but, because it is policy not to pursue suspects in cars, they were instructed not to intercept him.