Man arrested over car attack on Sydney police station

Australian police on Thursday arrested a man for an apparent attack on a Sydney police station, after he set himself alight and drove a car into its underground carpark.

Police said they had no reason to believe it was a terrorist attack or that the man, in his 60s, was connected to any terrorist organisation.

Media reported the man's car contained gas canisters, while New South Wales state assistant police commissioner Dennis Clifford said there appeared to have been some kind of fire accelerant in the car.

“Until we do some background investigation, we’re just uncertain about the motive,” Mr Clifford told reporters. “There’s nothing to indicate this is in any way related to terrorism.”

A staunch US ally, Australia has been on heightened alert for attacks by home-grown militants since 2014, having suffered several "lone wolf" assaults, including a cafe siege in Sydney in which two hostages and the gunman were killed.

Mr Clifford said officers spotted the man sitting in his car outside Merrylands police station, and when they approached him he set the inside of the car alight.

The man then tried to drive into the front of the police station before driving it into a roller door under the station. Police put out the fire, and the man was taken to hospital with severe burns.

Media reported that the man was known to police and was believed to have a mental illness. – (Reuters)