Bourke St attacker’s family says he’s not a terrorist

The family of the Bourke St attacker who killed Melbourne legend Sisto Malaspina and caused chaos in the city on Friday says he’s not a terrorist — rather, a man who was “crying for help”.

The family of the Bourke St attacker says he’s not a terrorist, rather a man who was “crying for help”.

A steady stream of family and friends visited the family home of Hassan Khalif Shire Ali on Sunday to pay their respects, with some bringing groceries.

His family today said Shire Ali had been suffering from a mental illness for years but had been deteriorating in recent months.

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Women arrive at the Werribee home of Hassan Khalif Shire Ali’s father. Picture: Jason Edwards

A stream of people arrived to pay their respects at the Werribee house. Picture: Andrew Henshaw

Hassan Khalif Shire Ali set a car on fire in Bourke St and killed innocent Sisto Malaspina before lunging at police officers. Picture: Chris Macheras

A letter from Hasan Khalid Shire Ali's family. Source: 9 News

“He has seen a psychologist and psychiatrist but stopped as his paranoia and hallucinations led him to believe they’re ‘after him’,” they said in a letter to Nine News.

“Please stop turning this into a political game. This isn’t a guy who has any connections with terrorism but was simply crying for help.”

One friend said Shire Ali had been trying to seek help, especially to cope with his substance abuse.

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Other friends said he had been in contact with family, including his wife and two-year-old boy, before the incident.

Friend of the family Sheikh Isse Musse said the family was trying to comprehend the consequences of Shire Ali’s actions.

The attacker swung at police officers with a knife in the middle of one of Melbourne’s busiest streets.

The atatcker was shot by police and later died. Picture: Jason Edwards

The family of Bourke St attacker Hassan Khalif Shire Ali claims he was not a terrorist.

Flowers left at the scene of the attack in Bourke St. Picture: David Crosling

“The family are now trying to grieve after what has been a terrible few days,” he said.

The family is yet to set a funeral date and has not been in contact with police since raids were conducted on homes on Saturday morning.

Somali and Muslim community leaders are considering donating money raised at their mosque to the families of the Bourke St victims.

Community leaders condemned the violence and said mental health could not be an excuse because the planning of Friday’s event showed it was premeditated.

They were working with families and young people to help identify anyone else at risk of becoming radicalised.

“These things have no place in our society,” Somali leader Sharmarke Farah said.

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