Police operation underway after reports of vehicle driving into crowd at Supernova Comic Con in Melbourne

One person has died and another is in critical condition after a vehicle crashed into a crowd at the Melbourne Showgrounds.

Emergency services rushed to the scene at the Melbourne Showgrounds in Ascot Vale on Saturday afternoon with reports of a gray Toyota believed to have crashed into two people.

One person died, and one person was hospitalized in critical condition.

The incident is believed to have occurred outside a convention venue during the popular Supanova Comic Con & Gaming, which had large crowds in the area at the time.

Initial reports said that while the driver allegedly tried to get out of the vehicle and leave the scene, the car crossed into oncoming traffic, plowed into the crowd outside the Showgrounds and stalled.

Police have since declared it a major crime scene and arrested a 33-year-old Werribee man, who was known to police and taken in for questioning.

Detective Inspector Craig McEvoy said the situation was “horrific” for both the victim’s families and the seriously injured person.

“There were three guys at the Flemington Showgrounds at the Comic Con Supernova festival,” he said.

“They left and headed home and unfortunately they were mowed down, shot, just outside the Flemington Showground.

“It could have been a lot worse, 100 percent. Unfortunately, we still lost one person in this situation, which is terrible for that family and everyone involved.”

Photos have emerged of at least three SES tents at the scene with paramedics.

Authorities are urging the public to avoid the area while investigations continue.

More to come.