According to police, a man in Melbourne allegedly went on a stealing spree and later held tram passengers at knifepoint, threatening to kill them if the driver did not open the tram doors.
The 57-year-old suspect allegedly committed a robbery at a 7-Eleven on Collins Street before boarding the route 48 tram at the intersection of Collins and King streets around 8.25 am.
The tram driver locked the suspect inside the tram to assist police officers, who were positioning themselves outside. Police responded swiftly and intercepted the tram before it reached the next stop.
Video footage captured by a passenger revealed the suspect demanding the driver to open the doors while urging the police to shoot him if they wanted the passengers to survive.
He then urged the police officers asking him to drop his knife to shoot him as “this is the only way, otherwise I’ll kill one of those girls”.
Faced with confinement, he forcibly grabbed a woman by the head and held her at knifepoint.
He then proceeded to shout that he would harm her and the other passengers on the tram.
The doors were opened and the police used a taser to subdue and arrest the man.
A police representative confirmed that the woman was slightly injured.
The alarming event has prompted the Transport Union to advocate for an increased police presence both on and around Melbourne tram lines, aiming to ensure the safety and security of passengers in the future.
Watch the video below (Neos Kosmos notes that some viewers might find the content distressing).
