In truly awful news, a man has allegedly set fire to a Commonwealth Bank in Melbourne‘s south-east, injuring dozens.
Local police have confirmed a total 27 people were injured, with six of those in a serious condition, after the bank’s Springvale branch caught alight at about 11:30am.
“Twenty-one other people were injured including three children, all have breathing problems and are in a stable condition,” a spokesperson for Ambulance Victoria said in a statement. “Ten of those were taken to Monash Medical Centre and 11 were taken to Dandenong Hospital.”
Details are still scarce but Sky News Melbourne bureau chief Ahron Young has said “a man did try to set himself alight, did try to self-harm”.
The suspect was arrested at the scene and is currently in a serious condition under police guard at an unnamed hospital.
A passerby captured footage of smoke pluming out of the branch:
Commonwealth Bank fire in Springvale. Looks like an explosion? pic.twitter.com/rAYZGAgsC7
— Solf (@sunprawn) November 18, 2016
Commonwealth Bank has issued a statement about the situation, nothing that the branch will (obviously) remain closed until it’s resolved.
“Our first priority is the safety of our staff and customers and as a result the branch will remain closed for the rest of the day,” the statement read. “Our response team is on site, and we are working closely with local authorities and emergency services.”
We’ll update this story as more info comes to hand.
Photo: 7News.
