Accused Flinders St rampager’s bizarre behaviour: neighbour

A NEIGHBOUR of accused Flinders St attacker Saeed Noori says the man was acting strangely in the weeks prior to the tragedy, spending days arguing over the phone in a foreign language.

A NEIGHBOUR of accused Flinders St attacker Saeed Noori says the man was acting strangely in the weeks prior to the tragedy, spending days arguing over the phone in a foreign language.

Detectives today interviewed residents in the small Heidelberg West street where Mr Noori was living with a woman and child.

Accused Flinders Street rampage driver Saeed Noori leaves Melbourne West Police Station with police officers. Picture: Mark Stewart

PETA CREDLIN: TIME TO GET TOUGH ON OVERSEAS-BORN CRIMINALS

ACCUSED FLINDERS ST RAMPAGE DRIVER FRONTS COURT

A nearby neighbour, who did not wish to be named, said he had not seen anyone inside the public housing unit since Tuesday.

“When the unit was first built, it was occupied by a 72-year-old man from Afghanistan who we knew only as Noori,” he said.

“After about six weeks, he said he had to go and that his son would be living there.

The scene at Flinders St after several pedestrians were run over. Picture: Sophie Smith.

Police presence at the corner of Flinders and Elizabeth streets the day after the horror incident. Picture: Nicole Garmston

DRUGS RUINED MY ‘BEAUTIFUL SON’ SAYS MUM

“I didn’t see him again after that … A day later, Saeed turns up with a wife and child.”

The neighbour said the 32-year-old, who has been charged with 18 counts of attempted murder and one of conduct endangering life, had acted erratically at times.

“A week or two ago, I could hear him talking to someone in another language almost all day for three days,” he said.

The incident left injured pedestrians in its wake.

The incident left Melbourne CBD in lockdown, days before Christmas. Picture: David Crosling

“This was an argument. You could tell it was a heated discussion.

“Sometimes it was loud music 100 times a week … Another time we heard his wife crying and I knew he wasn’t home because we saw him walking back from the shops not long after.”

On a particularly hot day, Mr Noori had asked around about getting air conditioning installed in the property, the neighbour said.

OFF-DUTY COP HAILED A HERO FOR TACKLING DRIVER

The smashed car after it drive into a tram stop on Flinders St. Picture: Michael Klein

Saeed Noori’s mother leaving Melbourne Magistrates’ Court. Picture: Lawrence Pinder

TEEN HERO SAVES MATE FROM DISASTER

“He told me he couldn’t ring up the housing commission about it because he was not supposed to be there,” he said.

Mr Noori’s mother, Shakiba Jalaly, yesterday revealed he has a two-year-old son, and his wife is pregnant with their second child.