Man tasered by police after allegedly threatening tram passengers with knife
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A man has been tasered by armed police on a Melbourne tram after he allegedly threatened to kill passengers on board.
The dramatic scenes unfolded inside the 48 tram in the CBD on the corner of Collins and King streets just before 8.30am on Saturday.
Police allege the man stole money from a nearby 7-Eleven on Collins Street before jumping on the tram near Southern Cross Station to flee the scene.
Police were immediately contacted and the driver followed police instructions to keep the tram doors closed.
Distressing footage of the incident, captured by a passenger using a phone, showed the man telling police to open the tram door or, “I will kill one of these girls”.
“Get the [police] car out of here I will start killing these girls,” he said.
A police officer can be heard trying to negotiate with the man and urging him to leave the tram.
Footage of the incident shows the man then pointing a knife with an approximately 20-centimetre blade at one of the passengers, as the woman clutched her head, moments before police swarm the tram.
“Shoot me now, shoot me or I’ll kill her,” the man can be heard telling the police.
Critical Incident Response Team officers then took the man down with a taser, as almost a dozen passengers – who were trapped inside the tram – watch on.
As passengers are evacuated, a police officer can be heard telling the man to “put the knife down”.
Footage of the man with the knife on the 48 tram.Credit: Nine News
Melbourne woman Tamara Janjic, who was on board the tram, said she tried to stay completely still during the incident, which had left her shaken.
“I was terrified,” the 23-year-old told Nine News. “I was broken this morning.
“You weren’t too sure what he was going to do next. It was really scary. I was trying to make as little movement as possible so he didn’t see us.”
Tamara Janjic said she was afraid the man would attack her.Credit: Nine News
Tarik Koc from the Rail Tram and Bus Union said the driver felt uncomfortable locking the doors and so when another police unit arrived, he opened the tram doors.
“He opened the doors without any instructions,” Koc told Nine News. “He had had enough as well … [he] was absolutely terrified.”
In a statement, Yarra Trams thanked police for preventing serious injuries and protecting passengers and staff.
“The safety of our employees and passengers is always our highest priority. We commend the actions of our driver for their management of this stressful situation, as well as thank Victoria Police for their quick response to detain the individual and deescalate the situation,” a Yarra Tram spokeman said.
“We are grateful that no serious injuries were sustained by our driver or passengers.”
A woman received minor injuries during the incident. The tram driver was shaken by the incident and returned to the depot where he is receiving support.
A police spokeswoman said late Saturday that the Critical Incident Response Team officers tasered the man after negotiations for him to drop the weapon failed.
Police have charged a 57-year-old man with armed robbery, false imprisonment, assault and threats to kill. The man, of no fixed place of address, will appear at Melbourne Magistrates’ Court on Saturday night.
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