A man has allegedly set fire to a Commonwealth Bank in Melbourne’s south-east, with dozens of people taken to hospital, including at least five in a serious condition, police have said.
This is what we know so far.Â
Where and when
A man has been filmed on a local cafe’s CCTV footage picking up a large container from outside the Asmara cafe and taking it to a nearby service station.
The footage then shows him returning at 11.22am, moments before the fire, and walking past the cafe in the direction of the bank.
A short time later an explosion is heard.
A man walked into the Commonwealth Bank branch on Springvale Road in Springvale about 11.30am on Friday.
He allegedly set fire to the bank, using an accelerant, possibly gasoline.
The man, believed to be 21, has been taken to The Alfred hospital with serious burns.
He is under police guard.
6 people seriously injured
Six people with serious burns, including the man allegedly responsible for the fire, have been taken to The Alfred hospital including:
- Â Two men in their 20s
- Â A man in his 60s
- Â A man in his 70s
- Â A man (no details on age)
- Â A woman in her 20s
21 people, 3 children treated for smoke inhalation
Twenty-one other people – ranging in age from a toddler to people in their 80s – were treated for breathing problems and taken to hospital.
Eight women and two men have been taken to the Monash Medical Centre in a stable condition.
Ten women and one man have been taken to Dandenong Hospital in a stable condition.
Commonwealth Bank statement
In a statement, the bank said its response team was working with emergency services.
“We can confirm there was an incident at our Springvale branch today. 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 says.
“Our response team is on site and we are working closely with local authorities and emergency services.”