SYDNEY (AP) - At least 19 people have been injured after a car drove into pedestrians on a sidewalk in central Melbourne, police say. 

Police have arrested the driver of the white SUV, which crashed into a cable car stop, but were not able to immediately confirm the cause of the incident or whether it was terrorism-related.

Australian police say the driver of a vehicle that rammed into pedestrians in Melbourne is an Australian citizen of Afghan decent who has a known history of drug use and mental health issues.

In a news conference late Thursday, police say that there was no evidence or intelligence to indicate that the incident was connected to terrorism, but they believe the act was deliberate. They say counter-terror officials would remain involved in the investigation to be sure there was no connection.

Police say the 32-year-old driver was known to state police on "historical assault matters."

Police say Thursday's incident on a busy city street left 19 people injured.

Local police say 19 pedestrians have been treated for injuries, with 12 taken to hospitals, including a pre-school aged child in serious condition with head injuries.

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12/21/2017 2:19:15 AM (GMT -5:00)