Top cop: Police knew Bourke St attacker’s passport was cancelled
Victoria Police chief commissioner Graham Ashton has revealed the organisation knew the Bourke St attacker’s passport had been cancelled and that it was aware of his security “flags”.
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Victoria Police chief commissioner Graham Ashton has revealed the organisation knew the Bourke St attacker’s passport had been cancelled and that it was aware of his security “flags”.
Mr Ashton said he is checking if police who bailed him for driving offences the weeks before the attack knew Hassan Khalif Shire Ali was of interest to counter-terrorism authorities “but there certainly are flags on that chap”.
The Herald Sun has been told officers from Victoria Police’s counter-terrorism command spoke to Shire Ali after his passport was cancelled in 2015, which is at odds with state government claims the Australian Security Intelligence Organisation was responsible for monitoring him before the Bourke St attack.
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On Friday, Attorney-General Martin Pakula said the fact his passport had been cancelled was not conveyed to Victoria Police.
Police would not comment on the detail of its interaction with Shire Ali before the attack, citing a coroner’s investigation. But Mr Ashton said there are flags on Victoria Police’s Law Enforcement Assistance Program (LEAP) database for Persons of Interest (POIs) to counter-terrorism authorities.
“One of the warning flags that exists relates to counter-terrorism POIs, so then the person needs to make further inquiries on the back of that if they feel it’s necessary,” he said.
Mr Ashton said he did not know if Shire Ali was flagged that way on LEAP, but he said he absolutely backed the decision of officers to issue him roadside bail, saying even if officers knew of counter-terrorism authorities he would have got bail.
“Being a person of interest is not a criminal offence,” Mr Ashton said.
The Herald Sun has been told there is concern among some rank and file police about what they know about counter-terror suspects before they have contact with them.
They believe they should have that knowledge, except in the most exceptional circumstances, but that information is not always put on the database.
Shire Ali was shot dead after he set alight a ute laden with gas bottles then attacked bystanders with a knife — killing beloved cafe owner Sisto Malaspina and injuring two others.
On Friday it was revealed that Victoria Police had extended Shire Ali’s bail for driving offences about four weeks before the attack, despite his failure to appear in court multiple times, and warrants having been issued for his arrest.
On Monday the public also learned Premier Daniel Andrews was aware Shire Ali was on bail the day after the attack, but he did not divulge that until after media reports surfaced six days later.
Mr Ashton said police were aware “there was the possibility” Shire Ali was on bail the night of the attack, but he failed to answer the question when asked directly by a journalist hours after the November 9 incident.
Mr Ashton contradicted Mr Pakula’s statement that Victoria Police would not have known Shire Ali’s passport had been cancelled.
TIMELINE TO TERROR
2015
- Hassan Khalif Shire Ali’s passport is cancelled over fears he would try to join terrorists groups in Syria.
April 11, 2017
Ringwood Magistrates’ Court
- Fails to appear on summons. A warrant issued after he fails to appear on charges of exceeding speed limit (82kmh in a 60kmh zone) and driving while suspended.
August 7, 2017
Werribee Magistrates’ Court
- Fails to appear on summons. A warrant issued after he fails to appear.
February 5, 2018
Werribee Magistrates’ Court
- Accused fails to appear. Warrant issued for his arrest.
October 10, 2018
- Shire Ali due to face court again on further traffic offences after being charged by the State Highway Patrol, but fails to appear and a warrant is issued. Police get warrant and extend bail for three months.
November 9
- Shire Ali sets a ute with gas bottles alight in Bourke St, fatally stabbing Melbourne icon Sisto Malaspina and injuring two others before he is shot by police and later dies in hospital.
November 9 — evening
- Chief Commissioner Graham Ashton is told there is a possibility Shire Ali was on bail at the time of the attack. He fails to answer a direct question from media about Shire Ali’s bail or parole status.
November 10
- Mr Ashton briefs Premier Daniel Andrews and members of his counter-terrorism sub-committee about Shire Ali’s bail.
November 16
- Media reports that Shire Ali was out on bail. Attorney-General Martin Pakula says: “The fact that his passport had been cancelled had not been conveyed to Victoria Police.”
Monday
- Mr Ashton reveals a few hours after the attack police believed Shire Ali could have been on bail at the time. He also says Victoria Police would have known that his passport had been cancelled.
January 14, 2019
Werribee Magistrates’ Court
- Shire Ali due to reappear in court for the two traffic offences briefs and breaches of bail.