Two people are fighting for life in hospital and 4 others are recovering from serious burns after a man set himself on fire in a crowded Melbourne bank on Friday.
The 21-year-old who allegedly set fire to the bank is said to have entered the Springvale Commonwealth Bank with flammable accelerant used to ignite the fire about 11.30am AEDT.
@CommBank at Springvale in Melbourne's south-east boarded-up after yesterday's arson attack. @abcnewsMelb pic.twitter.com/INcF7Y7N5i
— James Hancock (@jameshancockABC) November 18, 2016
CCTV footage allegedly shows the man taking a large plastic container and heading towards the bank just before the fire, the Nine Network reports.
The suspect is said to be an asylum seeker from Myanmar on a bridging visa.
The young man who blew up the bank in Springvale said to be an asylum seeker from Myanmar on a bridging visa https://t.co/kilYqIwfQF
— Michael Bachelard (@mbachelard) November 18, 2016
As many as 27 people -- including 3 children -- had to be treated for a mixture of burns and smoke inhalation, while the man who allegedly started the fire remains under guard at hospital.
Fairfax/Ernesto Gonzalez
On Friday, Country Fire Authority spokesman Paul Carrigg told reporters he understood there had been an explosion just inside the front entrance of the bank shortly after 11.30. But, he said, firefighters had not seen a container of accelerant.
"We haven't gone in search for it, it is a crime scene," he said.
"There's been apparently a flammable liquid, not sure what it was."
Police said they were unsure at this stage if there was an explosion.
UPDATE: We treated 27 people at #Springvale. 6 people have serious burns. 21 others including 3 kids have breathing problems & are stable.
— Ambulance Victoria (@AmbulanceVic) November 18, 2016
The motive of the alleged attacker is not yet clear.
"We don't know much about him. We haven't had a chance to speak with him. He is injured and he is being attended to at hospital," Inspector Jaqui Poider told reporters.
State Health Commander Paul Holman said 25 ambulance vehicles were sent to the scene.
The bank was evacuated and Springvale Road closed in both directions.
UPDATE: Five people who were in the bank at the time suffered serious burns and have been taken to hospital: https://t.co/BlpqNAYPvV #9News pic.twitter.com/MVluoqpPcP
— Nine News Melbourne (@9NewsMelb) November 18, 2016
21 people injured 5 have serious burns after reports a man set fire to himself at CBA branch Springvale. @3AW693 pic.twitter.com/CmCtAErRIW
— Pat Mitchell (@patty_mitchell) November 18, 2016
