Brisbane CBD shooting: Family of man shot by police breaks silence

The family of the knife-wielding man who was shot dead by police after Sunday’s stabbing in Brisbane’s CBD has told how he was suffering from severe mental health issues, as his identity is revealed.

A KNIFE-wielding man shot dead by police after a stabbing in Brisbane was suffering from severe mental health issues, his family say.

The man, Mohammad Bahram, 24, was fatally shot on Sunday morning after he attacked and stabbed another man in the CBD.

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When confronted by officers he charged at them with a knife forcing them to open fire, police said.

The incident happened outside the Westin Hotel on Mary St about 10.20am. The stabbing victim, a 25-year-old foreigner, was taken to hospital with facial and back injuries and later discharged.

The Islamic Council of Queensland said it was concerned by media reports that the dead man was born in Afghanistan and linked to terrorism.

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“We have been informed by family members that the deceased was born in Australia and suffering from severe mental health issues,“ council spokesman Ali Kadri said.

The family also believes he knew his victim, Mr Kadri said.

Police said the motivation for the attack was still under investigation but there was no ongoing risk to the community. They had not established any relationship between him and his victim.

The Queensland Police Union rejected criticism by the Islamic Council that the level of force used was excessive.

“Absolutely not, it is not excessive. This was a decision which was not made lightly by police and it never is in a circumstance like this,” union president Ian Leavers said.

“The officers involved in that shooting yesterday acted professionally and with tremendous restraint.

“What we will do when our lives or the lives of someone else is threatened, we will stop that threat. If we have to use a firearm and use lethal force, whether we have to fire one round, or multiple rounds, we will do that.”

Mr Leavers dismissed the idea that a taser could have been used.

“If you’re within two or three metres of a police officer and you bring in a bladed weapon like a knife, a taser is not appropriate,” he said.

“If a taser malfunctions … we would see a murdered police officer.”

An ethical standards command investigation- standard after a police shooting - is now underway.

Bond University Criminologist and former detective Terry Goldsworthy said a fatal police shooting was treated like a homicide until it’s shown to be “ authorised, justified or excused by law”.

“The report to the coroner will certainly highlight there was reasonable grounds to believe there was a threat of death of grievous bodily harm given his actions,” he said.