A child with 14 others wounded in Melbourne’s Flinders Street accident

A white Suzuki SUV ploughed into crowds and injured 14 people including a child on Thursday just after 4.45 p.m. in Melbourne’s Flinders Street.

The incident occurred when the area was busy with Christmas shoppers.  Authorities told media that while the motive of the incident was not immediately clear they believe it to be a deliberate act. 

Witnesses described horrific scenes from the incident, which started when the SUV ran a red light outside Flinders Street train station and sped up to hit pedestrians, striking more than a dozen people before crashing into a traffic barrier by a cable car stop. The driver of the SUV and another man are under police custody and investigation is on. 

Officials have urged people to avoid the site of the attack in the heart of Melbourne city. Flinders Street is one of Melbourne's busiest pedestrian roads, running between a major train station and the bustling city center. (AP)