It’s been almost one year since Dimitrious Gargasoulas drove his car into a crowd of people on Melbourne’s Bourke Street, killing five and injuring dozens. Those among the dead included a 10-year-old girl and a three-month-old baby.
Yesterday, at 4:41pm, a lone wolf struck again, this time driving a four-wheel drive into a Melbourne crowd at Flinders Street station, injuring as many as 19 people in the horror rampage.
The man, who was known to police, is an Australian citizen of Afghan descent and has a history of drug use and mental health issues, mowed down pedestrians at high speed in what police are calling a “deliberate act”.
The incident is not being treated as terror related.
And while it is these acts of violence that cause such a devastating impact on the victims of the crime, not to mention emergency services treating the wounded, the true heroism of innocent bystanders can often shine through.
As reported by the News.com.au, it was the quick instincts of an off-duty Victorian police officer who may have prevented “so much other carnage”.
The officer, who is yet to be named publicly, jumped into the SUV and detained the driver 15 seconds after the attack ceased, before rushing to the aid of those hurt around him.
“The off-duty arresting officer, a member of Victorian Police, who was prime in terms of detaining the alleged offender did suffer some injuries and is receiving hospital treatment,” Victorian Premier Daniel Andrews said after the attack.
“I think we would be right to single him out for special praise for the way in which he instinctively came to the aid of others in the protection of public order and potentially avoiding the so much other carnage.”
More as this story develops.
