David Speers: Ice remains a cold killer

WHILE we rightly wonder about a terror plot, let’s not forget the deadly role crystal meth may have played.

WHEN innocent pedestrians were mowed down on Melbourne’s Flinders St on Thursday, there was an ­entirely understandable fear this could be another terrorist attack.

All the hallmarks were there.

The 4WD accelerated into a huge crowd, at a well-known location, just days before Christmas.

Police were right to react as if it were a terrorist incident.

Their response was impressive, ­reflecting the enormous amount of training and resources that have gone into combating terrorism in recent years.

Police conduct overnight investigations after the Flinders St attack on Thursday in Melbourne.

One of the first teams on the ground was an elite strike squad armed with sub-machine guns.

This newly formed team only began official duties on Monday, tasked with roaming Melbourne’s CBD in the event of an attack requiring a rapid response.

Some may bristle at this heavy-handed “police state” approach, but after what’s happened in Nice, Brussels, London and Paris, no one can seriously pretend such a mass killing spree by terrorists couldn’t happen here.

It’s the job of governments and security agencies to keep us safe.

Ice is wrecking families, communities and, it seems, the lives of innocent pedestrians.

As it turns out, the Flinders St ­attack on Thursday afternoon wasn’t quite what it seemed.

Police say the driver of the car was 32-year-old Saeed Noori, a mental health patient, who missed a medical appointment that day.

According to Acting Commissioner Shane Patton, when Noori was quizzed by police on the scene he made “utterances in respect to a range  of  things  about  hearing ­voices, about dreams, but also attributing his actions to perceived mistreatment of Muslims”.

A note and flowers placed at the scene where the SUV crashed into the tram barrier as pedestrians cross into Elizabeth St on Friday morning. Picture: David Caird

So far police have found no evidence that Noori was connected to or motivated by terrorists. They’re continuing to trawl through evidence.

What could be just as revealing is the reference to Noori “hearing ­voices” and “dreams” and his history of drug abuse, most notably ice.

GALLERY: THE FULL HORROR OF OUR ICE EPIDEMIC

While there’s understandable focus on potential terrorism, let’s not ignore the alleged ice factor here.

This attack is eerily reminiscent of the massacre 11 months ago and just four blocks away. Six people were killed when a car crushed pedestrians in what’s become known as the Bourke St massacre.

At $5-$10 a pop, it’s cheaper than a night out on the booze.

Dimitrious Gargasoulas was charged with six counts of murder and 28 counts of attempted murder. He was not charged with terrorist ­offences.

Police say Gargasoulas had ­mental health and drug-related ­issues in the past.

If the same drug has contributed to two similar atrocities this year, we surely need to be asking some tough questions.

Are governments and security agencies keeping us safe from the scourge of ice? Are we devoting enough resources and training to deal with this insidious problem?

Where are the rapid response teams when an ice user is having a psychotic episode?

Pedestrians cross Flinders St near the scene of Thursday’s attack. Picture: David Caird

In responding to the Flinders St ­attack yesterday, the Prime Minister spoke about all the steps he’s taken to tackle terrorism.

Setting up a Home Affairs Department, implementing the Protecting Crowded Places Strategy, and so on.

Fair enough, but there was no mention of what the government is doing to tackle the ice epidemic. None.

Of course, ice addiction is a very different problem to terrorism, with very different causes.

But the end ­result, sadly, can be just as terrifying.

Ice is everywhere, from remote ­indigenous communities to country towns  and  the suburbs of every major city.

The use of crystal meth, or ice, in NSW and the ACT is still rising.

While cocaine is expensive, ice is not. It can be delivered to your door for less than the price of a pizza.

At $5-$10 a pop, it’s cheaper than a night out on the booze.

Ice is also hugely addictive and can cause a far more violent reaction than any other drug.

Ice is wrecking families, communities and, it seems, the lives of innocent pedestrians.

Two years ago federal and state leaders agreed to the National Ice ­Action Strategy. So what has that achieved?

Flinders St rampage accuser Saeed Noori leaves Melbourne West Police Station after being released from hospital. Picture: Mark Stewart

Columnist David Speers.

This month the Australian Criminal Intelligence Commission released its latest findings based on waste­water testing of 54 sites across city and country areas.

The use of crystal meth, or ice, in NSW and the ACT is still rising. The highest levels of use are in South Australia and regional Western Australia. There’s been some decline in the Northern Territory, Queensland and Victoria.

Nationally, the use of crystal meth has plateaued. Hardly a cause for ­celebration.

Federal and state governments aren’t exactly sitting on their hands. They’ve rolled out Local Drug Action Teams, warning ads on TV and other steps to tackle the problem.

But it’s clearly not enough.

While the focus on terrorism is to be expected after an attack such as the one in Flinders St, this should also be a wake-up call about the need to do much more about ice.

It’s a social evil and a risk to all. Not just the users.

Originally published as David Speers: Ice remains a cold killer