Flinders Street incident: man shot and injured by protective services officer

A protective services officer has opened fire on a man who confronted them with broken glass after reportedly trying to rob people on a tram in the centre of Melbourne.

Police say the officers were responding to an incident on the Princes Street Bridge just after 5.30pm on Friday when they were approached by the man.

When OC spray failed to subdue the man, one protective services officer (PSO) opened fire and the alleged assailant was struck once, police said. He was taken to hospital with what were believed to be non-life-threatening injuries.

Protective services officers are armed and uniformed officers who have the power to apprehend, arrest, search and fine people in public places such as railway stations.

The incident – which forced the closure of Swanston Street in both directions at the bridge – was not terror related, police said, and there was no ongoing danger to the public.

Armed crime squad detectives will now investigate the incident as per standard protocol when a firearm is discharged.

Police said a 27-year-old man was arrested in relation to an attempted robbery and assault.

Officers were told the man initially boarded a tram where he allegedly unsuccessfully attempted to rob passengers before getting off at Princes Bridge.

“It’s alleged the man then assaulted four people with a glass bottle, before he was arrested at the scene,” a police statement said.

A 67-year-old Warneet man, a 56-year-old Collingwood woman, a 24-year-old Kennington woman and a 46-year-old Hoppers Crossing woman were all taken to hospital with non-life-threatening injuries.

The arrested man, who was from South Melbourne, was helping police with their enquiries.