Three-month-old dead after CBD rampage

LATEST: THE alleged CBD killer who mowed down pedestrians through the centre of Melbourne, with the fifth death a baby boy, is set to face a string of murder charges, police have said..

THE alleged CBD killer who mowed down pedestrians through the centre of Melbourne is set to face a string of murder charges, police have said.

The Prime Minister, Victorian Premier and Victoria Police chief today gathered at the scene of the horror in a grim media conference.

Victoria Police chief commissioner Graham Ashton said following the re-opening of the alleged crime scene, 300 witness statements had been taken, but again urged witnesses to upload any footage of the incident.

Police were still waiting for the go-ahead to interview Dimitrious “Jimmy” Gargasoulas over the Bourke Street Mall car attack.

Mr Ashton said Gargasoulas had surgery on Saturday afternoon after being shot in the arm on Friday during the incident.

He says police want to interview him as soon as possible, but are waiting for doctors to allow that to occur, suggesting it might not be on Sunday afternoon.

“As soon as he’s medically fit, we will proceed to … process him,” Mr Ashton said.

He spoke soon after the Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull today praised the “heroism” of the first authorities at the scene, as he issued his sympathy to the city still reeling at the impact of the rampage.

Mr Turnbull said the Federal Government would donate to the fund, but he also pledged to make a personal donation on behalf of himself and his wife Lucy.

“We’re with you, we mourn with you, we stand with you, we love you,” Mr Turnbull said.

Premier Daniel Andrews also spoke, saying up to 13 victims were still being treated in hospital.

Mr Andrews also drew attention to the Bourke St fund and stressed 100 per cent of the fund would go towards helping victims, but said others would be assisted through normal channels.

LATEST: THE PM, Victorian Premier and police chief are set to make a grim joint statement from the scene of a horrific car rampage today, with the fifth to die a three-month-old boy.

His death comes as the government donated $100,000 to a new victims’ fund.

Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull, Premier Daniel Andrews and Victoria Police Commissioner Graham Ashton were set to make a joint statement from the scene about lunchtime today.

Earlier, Opposition Leader Bill Shorten had laid a wreath on the Bourke St mall where a makeshift memorial has been set up.

Just after 11pm yesterday, Victoria Police issued a short statement saying the child had passed away.

During the evening family said their final goodbyes to the infant, who was in a pram on Bourke St when he was hit by the car.

STRANGERS GATHER TO MOURN MELBOURNE’S LOST

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Last night, the devastated father of a 10-year-old girl horrifically killed in the tragedy remained at the bedside of his other daughter, 9, and his wife, who were hurt in the carnage.

A note left at the scene of Melbourne’s city rampage. Picture: Alex Coppel.

Grave concerns are held for the mother’s health as she fights for life.

The young girl’s death has plunged her family and friends into despair.

People showing their respects on the corner of Burke and Elizabeth st. Picture: Alex Coppel.

A classmate yesterday paid tribute to her 10-year-old friend. “She was always happy and knew how to make people smile,” the student said.

Rabbi Yisroel said the family regularly came to his McKinnon synagogue, but yesterday it was unusual for them to be missing from the Sabbath service. “She was a sweet girl,” he said. “She was good hearted and always happy to help with community projects.’’

The family weren’t able to use technology for most of yesterday due to their religious beliefs.

Fund started for victims ahead of vigil

Federal Opposition leader Bill Shorten has today laid a wreath at a memorial outside the GPO building for victims of the horror as today, the State Government donated $100,000 to kick off a fund for the families of victims of the Bourke St massacre.

And a vigil is being planned tomorrow evening at Federation Square.

Premier Daniel Andrews said the crime had devastated families and directly affected many hundreds of people.

“We mourn those who were killed by this evil criminal act and we offer our deepest condolences to their loved ones,” he said.

“We grieve with them and we stand with the victims.”

Mr Andrews said the Government had set up the Bourke Street Fund with an initial $100,000 donation to help victims’ families.

The Premier said floral tributes and letters could be left at a memorial on the corner of Elizabeth and Bourke streets, near the GPO.

Donations to the fund can be made by visiting: www.vic.gov.au/bourkestreet.html

Opposition Leader @billshortenmp lays flowers at Bourke St memorial #bourkest pic.twitter.com/nGZn6JAqDE

— Frances Bell (@bellfrances) January 22, 2017

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Police Chief Commissioner Graham Ashton revealed there were grave concerns for at least two injured victims in hospital. “It may be that those numbers of people killed may still increase beyond four,” he said yesterday before the death count rose from four to five deaths.

Mourners show up in their dozens to pay their respects. Picture: Alex Coppel.

A family friend, who runs a gym the sisters had attended, spoke of his heartache. “Today we found out the identity of this family and realised with a sick feeling in my gut that these little girls were students who we know personally,” he said.

“The public space where they were so terrorised is a space which belongs to every single one of us. We all feel helpless and hopeless at times like this as there is so little we can do.”

A woman whose child was in the same class as the young girl struggled to comprehend the tragedy. “It hurt before I knew who it was but when I heard who it was, it hit even harder,” the woman said.

Friends of the 10-year-old deceased girl have started a fundraising page for the family.

Originally published as Three-month-old dead after CBD rampage