Emergency services are on the scene after a car drove through a shopping centre in Melbourne’s northern suburbs.
Police were called to Northland Shopping Centre in Preston on Wednesday afternoon following reports of a stolen vehicle.
No injuries have been reported, though one person was treated for shock at the scene. Ambulance Victoria confirmed that paramedics assessed two individuals, but neither required hospitalisation.
Driver evades police, drives through centre
According to Victoria Police, officers tried to intercept the male driver outside the shopping centre around 4pm.
“The Landcruiser, driven by a sole male occupant, evaded police and drove straight through the middle of the shopping centre,” a police spokesperson said.
The vehicle exited the shopping centre and remains unlocated, police added.
Eyewitnesses describe chaotic scene
A caller to ABC Radio Melbourne, Yasmin, said she was in a nail salon inside the centre when the incident occurred.
“We were just getting our nails done when a car suddenly started driving straight through,” she recounted. “It went past Kmart and out through the other doors. It was really crazy. They’ve shut everything down and closed the mall for the rest of the day.”
Photos show significant damage to glass doors at one entrance of the shopping centre.
Another witness, Paul, told ABC Radio that he had just arrived to pick up his wife, who works at the shopping centre.
“I’m standing exactly where the car came through. Police are here taking photos and collecting evidence,” he said.
Paul described how the vehicle crashed through multiple sets of glass doors and passed near a children’s ride as it continued through the centre.
“It’s amazing no one was hit, considering how many people were around,” he said.
