Bourke Street terror inquest probes deaths of Sisto Malaspina and killer Hassan Khalif Shire Ali

Police planned to arrest Hassan Khalif Shire Ali just one day after he stabbed Pellegrini’s icon Sisto Malaspina to death, an inquest has heard.

Terror police had hatched a plan to arrest Hassan Khalif Shire Ali the day after he killed Pellegrini’s icon Sisto Malaspina in a frenzied rampage along Bourke Street.

The 30-year-old — who police shot dead — had grown increasingly violent towards members of the public in the months leading up to the November 2018 attack.

He was accused of two assaults using a hammer, another using a baseball bat, stalking a woman and was involved in a hit and run.

Counter-terrorism police had been trying to speak with Shire Ali amid growing concern about his threat to national security.

But they didn’t know his address, even though highway patrol officers had stopped Shire Ali for speeding in October where he was bailed roadside over five outstanding warrants.

Sisto Malaspina was an icon of Melbourne’s hospitality scene.

A coronial inquest will probe Hassan Khalif Shire Ali’s deadly Bourke Street attack.

The terror officers eventually got the address through another agency on November 1 and organised with general duties officers to arrest Shire Ali on November 10 over his recent violence so they could talk about their concerns.

But the arrest would never occur, Shire Ali embarking on his deadly rampage a day earlier.

A coronial inquest heard Shire Ali left what appeared to be pamphlets preaching the Islamic faith on cafe tables at Docklands before driving a ute around the city and MCG precinct, eventually parking at Bourke St.

The vehicle contained two large knives, a propane canister and three LPG bottles bought from Bunnings Broadmeadows four days earlier.

Shire Ali phoned his wife within seconds before the ute exploded in flames, the troubled attacker stabbing a good Samaritan out shopping who went to his aid and later a store security guard.

Police officers who came face-to-face with Shire Ali.

The burnt out ute is seen on Bourke Street.

Mr Malaspina — out on a walk — was repeatedly stabbed even as he lay defenceless.

A kind-hearted stranger who’d just finished work helped with CPR and comforted the 74-year-old in his final moments.

“She held his head and stroked his brow before his death and stayed with him until he had died – still stroking his brow, repeating to him – I am so sorry,’’ the court heard.

“She did what she could to give Sisto dignity in death.”

The court heard Shire Ali repeatedly yelled “Allahu Akbar” throughout the attack and grunted as he unleashed his “brutal” violence, ignoring police orders before he was shot in the chest.

The stabbings occurred within just 19 seconds.

Shire Ali had been on the radar of Victoria Police, Australian Federal Police and ASIO since 2015 when he and his wife were stopped from flying to Somalia, Shire Ali carrying a mobile containing material on Islamic State.

A shrine outside Pellegrini’s Espresso Bar honouring Sisto Malaspina, who was killed in the rampage. Picture: AFP

Victoria Police’s counter terrorism command in July 2018 concluded Shire Ali’s threat to commit domestic political motivated violence in Victoria had been overemphasised in a review due to his history of drug use and criminal activity.

He was referred to another division to be assessed for intervention programs but in October it was recommended he not be considered.

Terror police had passively monitored Shire Ali — whose younger brother was in 2017 arrested over a New Year’s Eve shooting plot at Federation Square — until August 2018.

The court heard Mr Malaspina was greatly loved by all with Shire Ali’s family revealing they were “acutely aware” of the heartache from the restaurateur’s death.

“We too feel great pain as we remain grieving for the death of our loved son and brother Hassan,’’ they said in a statement read to the court.

“Ours is a complicated grief. We knew Hassan to be a loving son and brother but we also know he was someone who was isolated by complex factors.

“We have a unique perspective though there are parts of this that we still struggle to understand.”

The inquest continues.

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