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‘Trolley hero’ praised for running at knife-wielding attacker in Bourke St, Melbourne

POLICE have spoken about the dramatic moment a heroic eyewitness grabbed a trolley and ran at a knife-wielding attacker.

Shannon Molloy
2 min read
November 10, 2018 - 12:58PM
Bourke Street attack a ‘terrorism incident’

POLICE have confirmed they have spoken to the man with a shopping trolley who rushed forward to subdue a knife-wielding attacker in Melbourne.

Police Commissioner Graham Ashton said authorities had spoken to the heroic individual, dubbed, “trolley man”, but warned the public not to get involved in situations like the Bourke Street attack.

“Look, you just have to be a bit careful about — in that situation how close you do get — because he could have been injured himself,” Mr Ashton told Weekend Today on Saturday morning.

“But certainly he was acting in the spur of the moment and looking to support the police.

“There was a number of people that did that and we are always grateful when the community are supporting our police members.

“Again, we just to be careful in the way that we do that.”

Police were at the scene of a major operation in Bourke St in the CBD yesterday, after a vehicle crashed and exploded in flames about 4.20pm.

The driver then got out and began stabbing pedestrians in a terrifying frenzy, injuring two and killing one, police have confirmed.

READ MORE: Islamic State claims Melbourne attack

Video footage shows the dramatic moment the attacker lunges at two responding police officers with the knife.

Simultaneously, an heroic eyewitness rushes at the attacker with a shopping trolley, briefly slowing him down and falling in the process.

Meanwhile, another bystander closes in while holding a chair grabbed from a nearby eatery.

The first man then springs back into action, charging towards the attacker for a second time, shoving the trolley in his direction as police open fire.

Do you know the trolley hero? Email shannon.molloy@news.com.au

Police confront the man armed with a knife after his car exploded.
Police confront the man armed with a knife after his car exploded.
A man can be seen pushing a trolley towards the victim to try and stop the attack. Picture: Twitter
A man can be seen pushing a trolley towards the victim to try and stop the attack. Picture: Twitter

Mr Ashton later warned the public on Weekend Sunrise that “we do ask people to be very cautious in those situations. If a firearm was produced or in fact he lunged at those people they could have been injured and we don’t want that.

“Police were there and were trained and armed to deal with that situation which they did stop nonetheless, it is a spur of the moment thing and people are acting to try to help the police and try to bring about a resolution quickly.

“I do not criticise as people... had good intentions, but again, we just have to be careful at those times that their actions don’t get them into harms way.”

The trolley pushing hero falls to the ground before getting up and charging again.
The trolley pushing hero falls to the ground before getting up and charging again.

Despite the warnings from police, the snap-decision actions of trolley man have been praised on social media.

“Total respect to the shopping trolley hero trying to take down a mad knife man with nothing but a metal basket on not very good wheels,” Paul Cochrane tweeted.

Man rushes at attacker with trolley

“Incredible work by police in Melbourne but also bystanders — one using a trolley to try subdue the man,” Cyndi Lavrencic said.

“Cops trying to take down man armed with knife. Passer-by seems to be trying to take him out with a shopping trolley!” Dan Nolan said.

Meanwhile on Facebook, the search is on to track down the man with a number of commenters on news.com.au’s page eager to shout him a beer.


Victorian Premier Daniel Andrews, who is in the midst of the State Election campaign, praised the efforts of police.

He also paid tribute to the bravery of “every day Victorians who came to the aid of complete strangers”.

A knife-wielding confronts police in Melbourne CBD

The attacker has since died and the rampage is now being treated as a “terrorism incident”.

People are being urged to stay away from the area, which has been cordoned off by police. Investigations are continuing.

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Original URL: https://www.news.com.au/national/victoria/trolley-hero-praised-for-running-at-knifewielding-attacker-in-bourke-st-melbourne/news-story/227bf32071c127c50b86049af136c39c