A MAN HAS been arrested after setting his vehicle alight and driving into a police station in Sydney.
New South Wales Police say a man who drove a burning car through the gates of the police station, after trying to set himself on fire, was arrested by police.
Police are not treating it as a terrorist attack.
Speaking to reporters, a police spokesman said: “Shortly after 7 o’clock this evening, people became aware of a man in a vehicle parked in the driveway of Merrylands police station.
“As police approached the vehicle, the interior of the vehicle ignited. A man then drove that vehicle down the driveway, and collided with the shuttered doors, underneath the police station.
“He was unconcious for some time. Police extinguished the flames, and exculpated the person from the vehicle. He is being treated by ambulance, and conveyed to hospital in a serious condition, with what I understand are very serious burns.”
Police said they are still trying to establish his identity, and are unclear as to his motivation.
“We don’t know the motivation at this stage, we’re trying to work through all of that, until we know his identity, and undertake some background checks, we’re uncertain about the motive.
“There is nothing to indicate this is in any way related to terrorism.”
The Australian Broadcasting Corporation initially described the incident as a “very deliberate attack”, but later rowed back on it.
Roads blocked
“We just don’t know why this person has acted in this way,” Assistant Commissioner Dennis Clifford told the Sydney Morning Herald.
Rafi Younes, the chief executive of local Merrylands Century 21 real estate agency, told Guardian Australia: “All the roads are blocked so the police wouldn’t let anybody go close.
We’ve been told to close the shops and leave the area.
In an earlier statement, New South Wales Police Force said: “A man has been arrested after he drove his car into the underground car park of Merrylands Police Station this evening.
The incident occurred about 7pm today (Thursday 21 July 2016) in Memorial Avenue.
“Police established a perimeter around the incident. The man was arrested by officers about 8pm.
The perimeter remains in place as a precaution while officers from the Rescue and Bomb Disposal Unit attend and examine the vehicle.
“No members of the public or police officers were injured during the operation. “The circumstances regarding the incident are in the early stages of being confirmed and no further details are available at this time.”
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