Melbourne stabbing attack was ‘terrorism incident’, police say, as Islamic State claims it
ISLAMIC State has claimed responsibility for a deadly attack in Melbourne yesterday afternoon, with police confirming the rampage as a “terror incident”.
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BOURKE Street has been reopened this morning as investigators finish assessing the scene of a deadly terror attack.
The Melbourne road had been shut off from Swanston St to Russell St as forensics and bomb experts examined the area, after a man went on a deadly stabbing frenzy yesterday afternoon.
Three people were stabbed in the attack, with one victim dying at the scene.
The knifeman, a 31-year-old Somali-born from Melbourne’s northwestern suburbs, died in hospital last night after being shot in the chest by police.
ATTACKER’S RELATIVES ‘WELL-KNOWN’ TO POLICE
The Herald Sun has identified the Melbourne attacker as Mohamed Khalif, who also goes by the name Hassan Shire.
He is reportedly the brother of an accused terrorist who allegedly plotted a large-scale attack at Federation Square on New Year’s Eve.
Authorities are yet to confirm the knifeman’s identity, but said his relatives were “well-known” to them.
Police will address the media again later this morning.
The Islamic State terror group has taken responsibility for the murderous attack, although the group’s Amaq news website provided no evidence for the claim.
“The one who executed the ramming and stabbing operation in Melbourne (..) is one of the fighters of the Islamic State and he executed the operation in response to (a call) to target the citizens of the coalition,” Amaq said late last night.
In a Friday afternoon press conference Victoria Police Chief Commissioner Graham Ashton confirmed the man was known to Victoria Police and federal counter-terrorism agencies.
“We are now treating this as a terrorism incident,” he said.
Commissioner Ashton revealed the man came to Australia from Somalia in the 1990s and had relatives known to police from a “terrorism perspective”.
“He’s got family associations that are well known to us,” he said.
The attacker had a record of some minor offences including for cannabis use, theft and driving offences.
Police have not yet revealed the identity of the attacker or the other man who died.
CHAOS IN MELBOURNE’S CBD
The knifeman caused chaos in the Melbourne CBD on Friday afternoon after allegedly stabbing three men.
One man, who is yet to be formally identified, died at the scene. Some witnesses say he was stabbed in the face.
A 26-year-old and a 58-year-old were taken to hospital with non-life threatening injuries.
The older victim has been named as Rod Patterson, a businessman from Tasmania. In a tweet, Tasmanian Premier Will Hodgman praised him for his bravery, saying “a nicer bloke you wouldn’t meet”.
His wife Maree posted on Facebook that Rod was “doing OK given the circumstances”.
“Unfortunately we got caught up in the attack in Bourke Street this afternoon and Rodney was hurt — good news is he is in a great hospital and doing OK given the circumstances — can’t take calls at the moment but will speak to everyone when I can,” she wrote.
“Thanks to everyone for their wishes and caring.”
Police officers also received minor injuries, one of them from being punched, and some cuts and scratches.
In light of the attack police are doing security assessments of events happening in Melbourne this weekend and extra police may be present but the Commissioner said there was no ongoing threat they were aware of.
Victorian Premier Daniel Andrews condemned the incident and thanked the police and brave bystanders who had risked their lives to stop the knifeman.
“This is an evil, terrifying thing that’s happened in our city and state today,” Mr Andrews said.
“We condemn it. We also take this opportunity to thank those very brave and dedicated members of Victoria Police who did all of us proud in their very quick response in very dangerous circumstances. They’ve done each and every one of us proud.
“Equally, those strangers, people who were bystanders who knew nobody involved, who stepped in without a moment’s hesitation, to render support and assistances.”
Prime Minister Scott Morrison said he had been briefed about the incident and state and federal agencies were working together.
“I condemn the act of terrorism in Melbourne today that has tragically taken the life of a fellow Australian who has died as a result of this evil and cowardly attack,” he said in a statement.
“Australians will never be intimated by these appalling attacks and we will continue to go about our lives and enjoy the freedoms that the terrorists detest.”
HOW KNIFEMAN’S ATTACK UNFOLDED
The terror incident began when the man drove a 4WD into the city about 4.10pm on Friday afternoon and it was set on fire.
Commissioner Ashton confirmed there were some barbecue-style gas cylinders in the car that had to be rendered safe by the bomb response unit.
It’s unclear whether the car was set on fire before or after the man left the vehicle.
According to the ABC, witnesses saw the man crash the car, get out and throw an object into the car that set it alight.
Commissioner Ashton said after the car was set on fire, the man interacted with some members of the public before police arrived.
The man then punched one of the officers through the window of the car. Two other officers got out of the police vehicle and attempted to engage him but the man used a knife to try and attack them. One officer eventually shot him once in the chest.
There were some reports that the man yelled “Allahu Akbar” during the attack but authorities later said this had not been confirmed.
Footage on social media shows a blue ute in flames and a man dressed in a black tunic and white pants menacing police with a knife. Two bystanders try to help officers stop the man, one of them by rolling a shopping trolley in his path.
RELATED: Trolley man praised for confronting knifeman
Different angle of the Bourke St attacker being shot by police. What is this insanity? #BourkeSt #Melbourne pic.twitter.com/nwwVYwQBd4
— The LFC Couch 🗣🎙 (@LFCCouch) November 9, 2018
In an earlier press conference, Victoria Police Superintendent David Clayton told reporters that police were called to the scene after reports of a car on fire. When officers got out of the car, they were confronted by a male brandishing a knife and threatening them.
“Passers-by were calling out that members of the public had been stabbed,” he said.
One witness named Markel told ABC Local Radio in Melbourne that bystanders were urging officers to shoot the man.
“A lot of bystanders (were) actually just screaming at the police officers, because the police officers were trying to take the knife off him and arrest him but bystanders were yelling out ‘just shoot him, just shoot him’.”
Bourke Street in Melbourne CBD remains closed following an incident.
— Victoria Police (@VictoriaPolice) November 9, 2018
Closures have been set up with no access from Swanston St to Exhibition St.
Russell St remains open to traffic.
Trams not operating on Swanston or Bourke St around closure.
Updates at @VicTraffic pic.twitter.com/YQahS9Z0kh
Ambulance Victoria said it had assessed three people at the scene, who were then taken to hospital.
One had a neck injury and was in a suspected critical condition, a second person had a head injury; and the condition and injuries of the third person was unknown.
Police have urged anyone who witnessed the incident or had footage of what happened to contact them.
Melbourne resident Meegan May told news.com.au she was on a tram on Bourke St heading into the city when it stopped just before Elizabeth St, about a block before the mall. She heard someone start screaming “he’s got a knife”.
She looked through the back window of the tram and noticed a car on fire. There was a man and two police officers trying to calm him down.
“A moment later, I heard a loud bang; to me it sounded like a gunshot,” she said.
Markel Villasin, 22, was finishing his shift at KFC on Bourke St as the drama unfolded.
“Me and the managers ran out and that’s when we saw the car on fire and then we saw the guy on the floor and we wanted to help, there were two blokes helping him out already, he was face down pools of blood around his face,” he told AAP.
“I’m pretty sure he got stabbed in the face.
“I really wanted to help but I was in shock, I didn’t know what to do.
“Because he was on his stomach, they turned him over to see if he’s alright, he was still alive.”
Bystander Drew Hair told AAP he was walking on Swanston Street when he heard an explosion.
The next thing he saw was a “big dude punching into the police car”.
Mr Hair said the assailant was dressed in Islamic clothing and of African appearance and about six foot four inches tall.
“The cops were trying to hit him with batons and he wasn’t going down,” he said. Mr Hair said two civilians became involved as well as two police, trying to stop the man from his attack.
An ambulance and about 10 police cars appeared within moments.
A man told Sky News that there seemed to be multiple explosions.
“There was one explosion and fire, then a second explosion and it was like a massive fireball,” he said.
Reports on 3AW Radio indicate that witnesses saw the man driving the vehicle “throw something into the back”, which then ignited.
@abcmelbourne #bourkest source from wechat pic.twitter.com/PiHjr6UzJ1
— windix (@windix) November 9, 2018
Chaos in #bourkest as a guy seems to have set his car on fire then attacked police with a knife. Police response was swift and overwhelming. I heard at least one gunshot initially. pic.twitter.com/j5BB8VVehI
— Meegan May (@meegslouise) November 9, 2018
If members of the public have images or video footage that may assist police with their investigation into the Bourke Street incident that occurred just after 4pm today, they are encouraged to upload them here → https:https://t.co/xKokx0OCFu pic.twitter.com/QggbPDn4e2
— Victoria Police (@VictoriaPolice) November 9, 2018
An eyewitness speaking to 7 News said it appeared the car was on fire before it crashed and “exploded”.
“I was walking up Bourke St … and we heard this loud explosion. I thought it was a car backfiring but there was flames coming out of the car. It then veered to the left … and exploded in flames,” the woman said.
“People were running everywhere. I thought it was like what happened last year so I started running. Everyone started running. It was so scary.”
Holy shit, a car on fire in #Melbourne city pic.twitter.com/yIryxRRKK3
— sarah (@_sarah_sarah) November 9, 2018
Something is on fire on Bourke St. pic.twitter.com/P3ixc6nWFj
— Andrew Dauncey (@daunce_) November 9, 2018
Anyone with information or who witnessed the incident is asked to go to Melbourne West police station to make a statement.
This marks the third attack in the area in less than two years. In January last year, six people were killed and 27 injured after a car was ploughed through Bourke Street Mall, with 28-year-old James Gargasoulas standing trial over the attack.
Last December, a car mowed down 16 pedestrians outside Flinders Street Station. Saeed Noori, 33, was ordered to stand on trial on murder and attempted murder charges.
If you or anyone you know needs help call Lifeline 13 11 14 or beyondblue on 1300 22 4636.
SPECIAL INVESTIGATION
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