World News

Alleged killer driver, 26, is charged with murder over deadly Bourke street crash – as chilling photo shows him sitting on top of his smashed car and his mother speaks out

A driver has been charged with murder and attempted murder after he allegedly killed an elderly motorist and injured several others when he slammed into cars and a crowd of pedestrians in Melbourne’s CBD. 

Zain Khan, 26, was on Saturday night charged with one count of murder, three counts of attempted murder, three counts of intentionally cause serious injury and two counts of conduct endangering life.  

He allegedly drove his mother’s white Toyota sedan down Bourke St and into a crowd of pedestrians before colliding with two other vehicles at about 6.20pm on Friday. 


Victoria Police alleged Khan accelerated after allegedly mowing down three pedestrians at a tram stop on the corner of Bourke and Swanston Streets. 

A 76-year-old Brunswick man driving a Hyundai died at the scene. 



Two people travelling in a grey Mazda, aged 30 and 37 and both from Diggers Rest, were taken to hospital with minor injuries. 

Three pedestrians – a 26-year-old man from South Yarra, a 23-year-old woman from China and a 35-year-old woman from Docklands – were also injured. 


Eerie footage shows Khan, dressed in all-white, sitting on the roof of the Toyota for several minutes before police officers pulled him down and arrested him. 

Zain Khan, 26, has been charged with one count of murder, three counts of attempted murder, three counts of intentionally cause serious injury and two counts of conduct endangering life over the Bourke Street chaos that unfolded on Friday

Zain Khan, 26, has been charged with one count of murder, three counts of attempted murder, three counts of intentionally cause serious injury and two counts of conduct endangering life over the Bourke Street chaos that unfolded on Friday

Eerie footage shows Khan, dressed in all-white, sitting on the roof of the Toyota for several minutes before police officers pulled him down and arrested him (pictured)

Eerie footage shows Khan, dressed in all-white, sitting on the roof of the Toyota for several minutes before police officers pulled him down and arrested him (pictured)

Khan allegedly drove his mother's white Toyota sedan through a tram stop and into a crowd of pedestrians before colliding with two other vehicles at about 6.20pm

Khan allegedly drove his mother’s white Toyota sedan through a tram stop and into a crowd of pedestrians before colliding with two other vehicles at about 6.20pm


Victoria Police have alleged Khan accelerated the car after allegedly mowing down three pedestrians at a tram stop on the corner of Bourke and Swanston Streets

Victoria Police have alleged Khan accelerated the car after allegedly mowing down three pedestrians at a tram stop on the corner of Bourke and Swanston Streets

His comments made in the minutes after the three-car collision are understood to have been recorded on their body-worn cameras. 

Chief Commissioner Shane Patton said this footage would be important in determining whether his actions behind the wheel had been deliberate. 

Khan was held under police guard at Royal Melbourne Hospital where police delayed interviewing him for at least 24 hours due to mental health concerns. 


In an after-hours hearing on Saturday night, the 26-year-old was remanded in custody to next appear in Melbourne Magistrates’ Court on January 15, 2024. 

Police confirmed Khan is known to have a history of mental illness and have ruled out terrorism as a potential motive. 

The white Toyota Aurion at the centre of the tragedy was owned by his mother, according to Commissioner Patton.

He said there had been no reports of Khan driving erratically before the incident and confirmed he had no criminal record. 



‘He has no prior criminal history. He is not on bail. He is in effect a “clean skin”, a term used by Victoria Police for someone who has not had police involvement,’ he said.

‘The only record we have of that male is that he was a reported missing person before and in 2020 we had some involvement with him for a mental health transfer.’

Commissioner Patton said it would likely bring up memories of a strikingly similar incident that occurred on Bourke Street in 2017, where six people were killed. 

‘We will have reassurance patrols out in the city today, making sure the public can feel reassured Melbourne is a tremendously safe city,’ he said. 


Khan’s mother revealed her son had been struggling with his mental health since 2017 and had packed a bag before the incident. 

‘He is very sad … he is sick. He has a mental history, mental illness problem from 2017,’ she told 7News.

‘It’s hard. I thought, you know, what he did, I heard he had hurt people, I was shocked at that part.’ 

In footage from the scene, people can be heard screaming as others render first aid to those injured as police officers, paramedics and firefighters arrive in droves

In footage from the scene, people can be heard screaming as others render first aid to those injured as police officers, paramedics and firefighters arrive in droves


The incident unfolded on the corner of Bourke and Russell Street on Friday night

The incident unfolded on the corner of Bourke and Russell Street on Friday night

Victoria Police have alleged Khan accelerated the car after allegedly mowing down three pedestrians at a tram stop on the corner of Bourke and Swanston Streets

Victoria Police have alleged Khan accelerated the car after allegedly mowing down three pedestrians at a tram stop on the corner of Bourke and Swanston Streets

Victorian Premier Daniel Andrews expressed gratitude to the bystanders who came to the aid of the injured drivers, passengers and pedestrians

Victorian Premier Daniel Andrews expressed gratitude to the bystanders who came to the aid of the injured drivers, passengers and pedestrians

Graphic videos taken at the scene on Friday show pedestrians frantically tending to two people outside a McDonald’s after they were run over.


People can be heard screaming as others render first aid to those injured as police officers, paramedics and firefighters swarmed the scene.

Bourke Street remained closed on Friday night until tow trucks were able to remove the wrecked cars from the scene.

Victorian Premier Daniel Andrews expressed gratitude to the bystanders who came to the aid of the injured drivers, passengers and pedestrians. 

‘I wanted to, on behalf of all Victorians, thank those police members who very quickly and with great bravery did the most important work in terms of securing the scene and taking the suspect into custody,’ Mr Andrews said on Saturday. 


‘And finally, can I thank those many, many Victorians who were on the scene and who stayed and extended that hand of friendship and love to support and help the (injured) people.’

Six people died and 27 were injured when James Gargasoulas ploughed into them after driving into Bourke Street Mall in 2017, although Friday night’s crash is not believed to be linked to this incident. 

Read More: World News | Entertainment News | Celeb News
247

Related posts

Thousands of protesters rally across Iraq for a 2nd day to condemn the burning of a Quran in Sweden

BBC Brk News

6 men arrested for alleged gang rape of teen tourist at European vacation hotspot

BBC Brk News

Woman Faces 7 Years in Nigerian Jail for Online Tomato Puree Review”

BBC Brk News

Leave a Comment