A 31‑year‑old man has been charged after allegedly phoning a media outlet and making a threat relating to an incident on Bourke Street in Melbourne’s CBD a call that triggered heightened police patrols and a warning text message to City of Melbourne staff.
Police allege the man, who has no fixed address, contacted a Sydney‑based media organisation believed to be the Nine Network and issued the threat. The outlet immediately referred the information to Crime Stoppers, prompting Victoria Police to increase their presence across the CBD.
At around 7:30pm, uniformed officers and members of the Critical Incident Response Team arrested the man inside a fast‑food restaurant on Swanston Street. Police say he was carrying a knife at the time but was taken into custody without further incident.
He has since been charged with using a carriage service to menace, making threats to kill, making threats to inflict serious injury, and carrying a controlled weapon without lawful excuse.
The City of Melbourne confirmed it sent a text message to staff on Thursday evening advising them to avoid the Bourke Street area after 7pm. The council defended the decision, saying it acted out of caution while police assessed the threat.
Authorities are urging anyone with further information to come forward as the investigation continues.
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