Live: CBD horror, three dead, 15 injured as car knocks down pedestrians

• 8:51pm

Eyewitness accounts: "People were literally just flying like skittles"

The eyewitness accounts of the incident are harrowing. 

Sharn Baylis said she gave CPR to a man who could not be saved and died of his injuries. 

She said the driver of the car mowed down pedestrians with no hesitation. 

"He was going around 60km/h but it seemed faster," she said. "People were literally just flying like skittles, bouncing off the bonnet and smashing into the shops."

The witnesses: 'There was no hesitation, he just mowed them down'

Samantha Welsh was on her way back to work after lunch when she ran into a colleague at the corner of Bourke and William streets.

"I stood there and chatted to him for about five minutes and my co-worker noticed something and turned and screamed, 'run'," Ms Welsh said.

"I owe my co-worker my life," she said. "Without him telling me to run, I would be dead."

Witness to Bourke Street horror tells of seeing toddler in 'pink, puffy jacket'

• 8:29pm;
• Henrietta Cook

International insurance broker Marsh confirmed that two of their employees were injured in the incident and had received medical treatment. 

A spokeswoman was unable to provide an update on their condition. "We haven't been informed," she said.  An email was sent to staff about the incident. 
 

• 8:18pm;
• Rania Spooner, Julia Medew, Craig Butt

What we know about the people injured

Based on the most recent information, 31 people have been hospitalised as a result of the Bourke Street mall incident. 

However, not all of these people were knocked down on Bourke Street - some people have been taken to hospital because of the shock of what they witnessed when the car ran down pedestrians. 

Six people are in a critical condition, including a three-month-old girl.

Victoria Police Chief Commissioner Graham Ashton has warned the death toll may rise. 

Royal Melbourne Hospital has received 11 patients. Three are critical, two are serious, and six are stable.

The Royal Children's Hospital is treating five people. The three-month-old girl is in a critical condition, a 2-year-old is serious and a 9-year-old, 13-year-old and 23-year-old are stable. The 13-year-old and 23-year-old have since been discharged. 

St Vincent's Hospital has received seven patients, all of them in a stable condition.

The Alfred has received seven patients. Two are critical but stable, two are in a serious condition, and three are stable.

The Royal Ear and Eye Hospital has also received one patient. 

Melbourne hospitals caring for dozens, including children and witnesses

• 7:56pm;
• Julia Medew

Two admitted to hospital in shock after witnessing Bourke Street incident

An emergency doctor working at St Vincent's Hospital today said two patients were so shocked by what they had seen, they needed medical care.

Dr Neil Cunningham, the senior doctor who coordinated St Vincent's response to the event, said one "extremely distressed" person who had not been hit by the car was brought in by ambulance with chest pains and may be suffering from a heart attack.

Another person was "very much in psychological shock" after witnessing the crime and had been admitted for treatment.

"It's not unheard of that people sustain heart attacks from stress," he said.

Dr Cunningham said St Vincent's received another five patients with multiple injuries. All were clearly in pain and conscious when they arrived. Some had blood on them.

About 60 staff were rallied in the emergency department to care for the patients who are all stable tonight. Dr Cunningham said the health system appeared to work well today, and that staff would have to debrief to look after their own health and to learn from the experience.

"I feel incredibly proud of all the staff at St Vincent's today. We had an environment that was respectful and understanding of the fact that the people coming through the door had been through a very, very distressing event," he said.

• 7:42pm

Bourke Street mall incident: the reactions

Premier Daniel Andrews: "Our hearts are breaking this afternoon... our emergency services have done us proud in the most difficult of circumstances... we can be confident we are stronger than this evil criminal act." 

Lord Mayor Robert Doyle: "It is very difficult to believe these sort of things could happen right in front of you in the city".

Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull: 

Opposition Leader Bill Shorten: "All Australians stand with the people of Melbourne in this horrific moment. We offer our heartfelt condolences to the loved ones of the lost."

• 7:34pm

Correction: 20 people were injured, not 15

Correction: 20 people were injured when a man driving a maroon car knocked down a number of pedestrians on Bourke Street

We had previously reported the number as 15, based on comments chief commissioner Graham Ashton made at a 5pm press conference. 

However, police inform us that the number injured was actually 20. 

• 7:18pm;
• Tammy Mills, Beau Donelly, Chris Vedelago

Bourke Street Mall driver identified as James "Jimmy" Gargasoulas

The man who allegedly mowed down 18 people in Melbourne's CBD on Friday, killing three and injuring 15 others, has a history of drug use, violence and psychological problems.

James "Jimmy" Gargasoulas, 26, lived in public housing flats in Windsor, where he allegedly stabbed his brother, Angelo, in the early hours of Friday morning.

A relative said Jimmy has had a drug problem and has been in and out of jail for car theft and drug offences.

"Jimmy has always been a bad person," she said. "I knew it was him. I saw it on TV ... the picture of him sticking his head out when he was doing burnouts.

"I saw a picture and I thought 'Oh My God, that's Jimmy.' I'm shaking. I knew it, as soon as I saw that picture I had this feeling. I can't believe this.

"I balled out crying when they announced that baby died. I'm shaking, I just can't believe this."

Bourke Street Mall driver identified as James "Jimmy" Gargasoulas

• 7:06pm

Comment from The Age's top writers

John Silvester

Crime reporter John Silvester writes that the arrested man was deliberately running down pedestrians on Bourke Street. "The extent of damage to the offender's vehicle shows that he hit his victims at speed, with one being dragged under the car and others smashing on the bonnet and onto the roof."

He writes today's events show how susceptible any peaceful city is to random attack and simply cannot be defended.

"The attack on pedestrians by a known violent, charged offender with a history of drugs abuse and mental health problems will lead to calls for the bail structure to be scrutinised in the same way," he writes.

"There will be outrage and calls for major reforms. And this time the law makers will be forced to listen."

Killer driver highlighted how susceptible city is to attack

Daniel Flitton

The Age senior correspondent Daniel Flitton writes the city has been terrorised, although not by an act of terrorism. 

"This might not be an act of politically motivated violence, but the shock and trauma should not be discounted just because it doesn't fit into some grand narrative of global mayhem," he writes. "It is not September 11, 2001, but nonetheless, the dead and injured are someone's sons and daughters." 

Read more: Melbourne CBD tragedy: A city terrorised by an act of madness

• 7:00pm;
• Julia Medew, Rania Spooner, Craig Butt

The people hospitalised: the condition reports

Twenty people were injured in the incident and a total of 29 people have been hospitalised (some for shock).

Six of these 29 people are critical, five are in a serious condition and 18 are in a stable condition. 

Victoria Police Chief Commissioner Graham Ashton has warned the death toll may rise. 

Royal Melbourne Hospital has received 11 patients. Three are critical, two are serious, and six are stable.

The Royal Children's Hospital is treating five people. A three-month-old girl is in a critical condition, one is serious and three are stable. 

St Vincent's Hospital has received six patients, all of them in a stable condition.

The Alfred has received seven patients. Two are critical but stable, two are in a serious condition, and three are stable.

Melbourne hospitals caring for dozens, including children and witnesses

• 6:53pm

The press conference on the Bourke Street incident

Premier Daniel Andrews and police commissioner Graham Ashton spoke to media about the incident about 5pm. 

Chief Police Commissioner Graham Ashton said a man and woman in their 30s and a child died in the incident.

The adults and child are not believed to be related, and were hit at separate intersections on Bourke Street, he said.

Fifteen people were injured by he vehicle, including five who are critical.

An infant child in a pram who was hit by the car was treated at the scene by emergency services and was driven in a police car to hospital where it is in critical condition. 

Mr Ashton believes the death toll "could in fact rise".

Police believe the 26-year-old offender had mental health issues, and has came to police's attention due drug-related issues and family violence assaults, leading to police charges last weekend. 

Mr Ashton said the man had "an extensive family violence history".

• 6:41pm

Car was doing donuts at Flinders Street Station intersction

Police are inspecting the tire marks left on the road at the intersection of Flinders and Swanston Streets before the car sped up Swanston Street and into Bourke Street. 

• 6:37pm;
• Rania Spooner

Nine-year-old's condition improves from serious to stable

The condition of a nine-year-old child injured in today's incident has improved from serious to stable. 

A three-month-old girl remains in a critical condition. She had to be rushed to the hospital in a police car because there simply was no time to wait for an ambulance to reach the scene. 

A 12-year-old and a two-year-old remain in a serious condition, while a 23 year old woman also being treated at the the hospital is in a stable condition.

A total of 25 people have been hospitalised. Fifteen were pedestrians knocked down by the car and 10 appear to be people who were admitted to hospital after witnessing the incident. 
 

• 6:29pm

Bourke Street incident: what we know so far

Update: Here are the key facts on the Bourke Street incident. 

• A man driving a maroon car knocked down a number of pedestrians on Bourke Street, killing three people and injuring 15.

• The three people killed were a man in his 30s, a woman in her 30s and a young child. 

• Five people have been taken to hospital with life-threatening injuries, including a three-month-old baby girl.

• The driver of the car has been arrested.

• The incident was not terror-related. 

• Police are advising Melburnians to avoid the following area while they conduct their investigation into the incident. 

• The driver of the car is accused of stabbing his brother in Windsor on Friday morning. 

• Before running down pedestrians on Bourke Street, he allegedly took a woman hostage. She later escaped on Bolte Bridge and he drove into the city, and was filmed doing doughnuts at the Swanston/Flinders Street intersection.

• The man has a history of family violence, mental health and drug problems. 

Full article on what we know so far

• 6:13pm

Bill Shorten: "All Australians stand with the people of Melbourne"

Opposition Leader Bill Shorten has issued a statement saying "All Australians stand with the people of Melbourne in this horrific moment."

"We offer our heartfelt condolences to the loved ones of the lost," he said in a statement. "We pray for the injured and the frightened, in particular the very young children."

"It's difficult for all of us to comprehend how, why and what has happened. Harder still to understand that it happened here, in a country and a city that prides itself on being such a welcoming, safe and peaceful place."

"Victoria Police have made it clear this was not an act of terror, it was an act of murder. A cowardly, senseless, destructive crime that has claimed the lives of innocent people."

"We wait for answers, we wait for justice and tonight we hold all those in sadness and pain, close to our hearts."

• 6:01pm;
• Rania Spooner

Kids taken to Royal Children's in a critical condition

A three month old baby was in surgery at the Royal Children's Hospital at about 5pm on Friday afternoon, while a two year old is fighting for its in the intensive care unit.

They were among five people, including an adult, injured in the chaos who were taken to the RCH. An additional 20 people have been taken to St Vincent's, Royal Melbourne and The Alfred.

"We received five patients here to the childrens hospital. A three-month-old who's currently in the operating theatre, a two-year-old who is being transferred to the intensive care unit, a nine year old with limb injuries who is being transferred to the ward and a 12 year old who is currently undergoing assessments in the ED department," RCH chief of surgery Mike O'Brien said.

"None of the children have deceased yet but it would be fair to say they are in a critical condition."

The hospital also treated a 23 year old woman with a limb injury, he said.

The RCH did not need to declare a code brown - the highest level of alert - as a result of the incident.

"We've been able to address the situation with the resources that we have at hand and will continue to manage it appropriately," he said.

• 5:46pm

Premier Daniel Andrews: "our hearts are breaking this afternoon"

Premier Daniel Andrews has called the incident an "evil criminal act" but has thanked emergency services and ordinary Victorians for coming to the aid of those injured. 

"Our emergency services have done us proud in the most difficult of circumstances," he said. 

He said the apprehended man had no links to terrorist organisations or criminal activity.  

"He is no longer a threat to Victorians thanks to the good work of Victoria Police," he said. 

He said stories were emerging of "ordinary Victorians coming to the aid of their fellow citizens" after pedestrians were run down on Bourke Street. 

"Our hearts are breaking this afternoon that a number of poeple have died, and some remain in a critical condition."

"We can be confident we are stronger than this evil criminal act," he said.

• 5:25pm

Victoria Police Chief Commissioner Graham Ashton on the incident:

Victoria Police Chief Commissioner Graham Ashton said three people were killed in the incident - a man in his 30s, a woman in her 30s and a young child. 

"For reasons of family notification I will not give the age (of the child)." 

He said all three were struck in different parts of Bourke Street and were not connected. None of them were in Bourke Street Mall when they were hit by the vehicle. 

Fifteen people were injured by the vehicle, he said.

Of these, five people are in a critical condition, including a three-month-old baby who has been taken to hospital in a police car because there was no time to wait for an ambulance to arrive. 

He said the arrested man had an extensive history of family violence, drug and mental health problems. The man had  come to police attention in recent days because of some assaults.

Chief Commissioner Ashton said people who were also presenting at hospitals with health problems after witnessing the incident. 

• 5:20pm

Victims Support Helpline

Witnesses and victims requiring support can call 1800 819 817. 

• 5:19pm

Premier Daniel Andrews addressing the media

"They have apprehended the person involved in this terrible criminal act."

• 5:11pm

Premier Daniel Andrews to speak on Bourke Street incident

Victoria Police Chief Commissioner Graham Ashton, Premier Daniel Andrews and Ambulance Victoria State Health Commander Paul Holman will shortly be providing an update on the incident.