Melbourne. Place your bets.

[KD5NRH]

https://news.sky.com/story/19-injured-as-car-hits-crowd-in-melbourne-australia-11179410

As many as 19 people have been injured after a car deliberately drove into a crowd in central Melbourne, police have said.

Several of those hurt have been critically injured. The area is now in lock-down and officers have warned people to stay away.

Some witnesses saying there were two guys in the SUV.  Could have been Mormon missionaries.  Maybe JWs.  Or recent converts to Seventh Day Adventism.

[Hawkmoon]

I just saw a report on this. https://www.wsj.com/articles/car-plows-into-pedestrians-in-central-melbourne-1513842409

As usual, after-the-fact the police will provide "a strong presence into the night," as if that could possibly make any difference. What continues to amaze me is the official response to the growing possibility probability of such attacks, and the fact that many people seem to actually believe that the official response could make any difference whatsoever in preventing this type of attack.

The January incident, coming after terrorist attacks in Europe and the U.K. in which attackers used vehicles to mow down pedestrians, prompted Australia’s government and police countrywide to strengthen defenses in an effort to guard against vehicle-based attacks. Concrete or metal poles were erected at popular locations and more armed police have been patrolling the nation’s streets.

Earlier this month, police in Sydney began patrolling with military-style rifles for the first time. Other deterrent measures have included fences and additional installations of CCTV cameras, as well as improved screening procedures across the country.

Security theatre. Nothing more.

[griz]

Some witnesses saying there were two guys in the SUV.  Could have been Mormon missionaries.  Maybe JWs.  Or recent converts to Seventh Day Adventism.

Don't forget the Buddhists, Unitarians, or those pesky Agnostics.  Are we forgetting any other sect?

[K Frame]

You World Religion Haters!

It was obviously the Southern Baptists! White Christian Terrorism is the ONLY terrorism!

[makattak]

First thing I heard on the radio after the report of the attack was that the police don't suspect terrorism.

I've pretty much come to the conclusion that if, immediately after the attack (i.e. with no investigation at all), police say it wasn't terrorism... it was muslim terrorism.

[BobR]

What I heard driving in today was it was not terrorism. The driver was an Australian citizen of Afghani descent who was well known to the Victoria police from prior assaultive encounters and had a history of mental health problems. Seems like they covered everything but the gun angle (not being a prohibited person), but being Australia that is not really necessary.

bob

[230RN]

Other deterrent measures have included fences and additional installations of CCTV cameras, as well as improved screening procedures across the country.

What's that supposed to mean?  What are they "screening" for?

[HankB]

Don't forget the Buddhists, Unitarians, or those pesky Agnostics.  Are we forgetting any other sect?

[Brad Johnson]

Don't forget the Buddhists, Unitarians, or those pesky Agnostics.  Are we forgetting any other sect?

Sikh, Shinto, and Pagan.

Brad

[BobR]

Sikh, Shinto, and Pagan.

Brad

Don't forget the Hutterites, they have made quite the come back in the last 100 years or so.

bob

[charby]

NPR said Australian officials said the driver was a known drug/alcohol abuser.

[Hawkmoon]

What's that supposed to mean?  What are they "screening" for?

Flies. Screens keep flies out. :duh:

[RocketMan]

So the driver was an Afghani immigrant with mental issues.  What about his passenger?  Two people went to that party.  What was the second person's background?  What was their involvement in the terrorism act?

[French G.]

NPR said Australian officials said the driver was a known drug/alcohol abuser.

Also a known Afghani, why is one important for them to report and not the other?

[Hawkmoon]

What I heard driving in today was it was not terrorism. The driver was an Australian citizen of Afghani descent who was well known to the Victoria police from prior assaultive encounters and had a history of mental health problems. Seems like they covered everything but the gun angle (not being a prohibited person), but being Australia that is not really necessary.

If he is of Afghani descent, he is almost certainly a Muslim. It's entirely possible for someone to be Muslim, have drug/alcohol problems, have mental health problems ... and still self-radicalize into an Islamist terrorist. In fact, such a person would be an easy target for a third party to radicalize ...