David Leyonhjelm under fire for tasteless Bourke Street Mall rampage tweet

LIBERAL Democrats senator David Leyonhjelm is under fire for comments made after the Bourke Street Mall rampage.

• Police pursuit though Melbourne CBD
• Bourke St Mall attack: What we know so far
• Deadly chaos caught on camera
• Witnesses describe chaos amid Bourke St mall rampage

LIBERAL Democrats senator David Leyonhjelm is under fire for comments made after the Bourke Street Mall rampage.

As news began to break of the attack that has already claimed three lives, Senator Leyonhjelm took to twitter in response to a Herald Sun update to say: “Probably one of those semi-automatic assault cars.”

Probably one of those semi-automatic assault cars. https://t.co/8oUYMryALl

— David Leyonhjelm (@DavidLeyonhjelm) January 20, 2017

The comment drew almost universal condemnation, with many social media users criticising the politician for the tasteless remark.

@DavidLeyonhjelm you really are a pathetic grub

— Tom Steinfort (@tomsteinfort) January 20, 2017

@DavidLeyonhjelm you've the right to free speech but using it this way you show yourself to have a lack of compassion, judgment & leadership

— Darren Rowse (@problogger) January 20, 2017

@DavidLeyonhjelm Typically tasteless. This man is a member of our federal parliament.

— Ian Royall (@IanRoyall) January 20, 2017

.@DavidLeyonhjelm thinks the Bourke St Mall deaths are comedic, what a complete tosser. pic.twitter.com/rEWigYFtzq

— Zac Davies (@ZacDavies) January 20, 2017

In response, to criticism, Leyonhjelm also said the following: “I assume this little petal is attempting to say he disagrees with my point of view.”

He then responded to another tweet by saying, “reacting to rogue car. They are building them with a mind of their own.”

. @workmanalice Wrong - reacting to rogue car. They are building them with a mind of their own.

— David Leyonhjelm (@DavidLeyonhjelm) January 20, 2017

Twenty more pedestrians have been rushed to hospital following the attack.

Senator Leyonhjelm told AAP the outrage “only emanates from those who are too stupid to get it”.

“My comment referred to the ‘rogue’ car, as if the driver is irrelevant,” he said.

“It’s people who commit crimes, not inanimate objects.

“The same argument applies in the debate about firearms.”