MELBOURNE, Dec 30 (Reuters) - An 83-year-old man has died of his injuries after an SUV driven into a crowd of pedestrians injured more than 20 people in central Melbourne this month, Victoria Police said on Saturday.
Antonios Crocaris, from the Melbourne suburb of Northcote, is the first person to die from the rampage, in which a white SUV was deliberately driven into dozens of pedestrians in Flinders Street in the central business district on Dec. 21.
The alleged driver, Saeed Noori, could now face the upgraded charge of murder. He has already been charged with 19 counts of attempted murder and one count of conduct endangering life.
Noori, 32, came to Australia as a refugee from Afghanistan and Victoria Police said he is known to have a history of mental health issues and drug use. Police have said they don't believe the attack was related to terrorism.
"Our father Anton had his life cruelly taken away in a senseless act of violence," Crocaris's family said in a statement.
The attack took place on Flinders Street, a major road alongside the Yarra River, in Australia's second-biggest city.
Six victims remain in hospital.
Noori will next appear in court in May and is being kept behind bars.