At least 15 people have been injured, with several in a critical condition, after a car drove into a crowd in Melbourne, Australia.

The car “collided with a number of pedestrians” on Flinders Street, a busy junction in the center of the city, said Victoria Police.

Police have arrested two people and said it was a deliberate act but is too early to say whether it was terrorist-related.

“The motivations are unknown,” police commander Russell Barrett said.

The white SUV struck pedestrians just after 16:30 local time.

Victoria Ambulance said in a statement that a child of pre-school age with serious head injuries was among those taken to hospital.

Image source Wikimedia

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Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull said that the investigations had begun, and sent “thoughts and prayers” to those affected.

He tweeted: “As our federal & state police & security agencies work together to secure the scene and investigate this shocking incident our thoughts & prayers are with the victims & the emergency & health workers who are treating them.”

In January, six people died when a man drove a car into pedestrians on Bourke Street.

Afterwards, Melbourne authorities installed concrete blocks in various locations – including on Flinders Street – hoping to prevent vehicle-based attacks.