Inside the hidden lair where ‘psycho’ terrorist plotted carnage
The hidden home of Bourke St terrorist Hassan Khalif Shire Ali, concealed behind a fence and black tarp in a suburban backyard, looks just like a normal family home with no clues to the evil that was plotted inside.
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The hidden home of Bourke St terrorist Hassan Khalif Shire Ali is an unlikely setting to hatch an evil plan to kill.
Concealed behind a fence and black tarp in a suburban backyard, the car bombing jihadi’s lair looks like a normal family home.
But inside the walls of the converted Meadow Heights garage is probably where Shire Ali, 30, plotted his deadly Islamic State-inspired attack.
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Exclusive pictures of the home, which he shared with his wife and young son, show a baby’s cot, playpen, and toys.
A colourful world map and times-table posters are stuck to the walls, and child-safe locks are clipped to kitchen cupboards.
A pile of bedding rests on a couch, clothes hang in a closet and pots, plates and mugs lay scattered across the kitchen bench.
The simple domestic setting is a far cry from the scene of carnage Shire Ali unleashed in Melbourne’s heart on Friday.
An elderly woman, who lives in the main home and is not linked to the attack, told the Herald Sun Shire Ali kept his distance.
“I just saw his face,” she said.
It is understood he and his wife had separated, but Shire Ali had lived in the bungalow before the attack.
The elderly woman’s daughter said he was a “psycho” and it was unlikely his wife knew of his plot to kill.
“She wouldn’t know. She is a beautiful girl,” the woman said.
“I don’t think she would be with him (if she knew).
“He is a psycho.”
It is understood she has not been fully co-operative with investigators since the attack.
On Saturday, specialist police raided the property. Shire Ali’s father’s Werribee home was also searched.
A neighbour heard officers shout “come out, come out” before the raid.
A replacement panel has been fitted to the entrance of the garage, probably after police smashed their way inside the home.
Forensic evidence from the site may give investigators crucial insight into the attack’s planning.
Shire Ali drove his ute, packed with barbecue gas canisters, into Bourke St in an “unsophisticated” plan for it explode and kill people nearby.
Armed with a knife, he attacked police officers, a security guard and two others.
Pellegrini’s Espresso Bar co-owner and Melbourne identity Sisto Malaspina was killed after he rushed to Shire Ali’s burning car to help.
Tasmanian businessman Rod Patterson, 58, was also trying to help when he was stabbed in the head.
Security worker Shadi, 26, was knifed in the neck on the steps of the building he was guarding.
Shire Ali was known to state and federal counter-terror authorities.
He had his passport cancelled in 2015 because of concerns he planned to travel to Syria to fight with IS.
However, his family say he is not a terrorist and was mentally unwell.
“Hassan suffered from mental illness for years and refused help. He’s been deteriorating these past few months,” the family said on Saturday.
“This isn’t a guy who had any connections with terrorism, but was simply crying for help.”
His family declined to comment when approached by the Herald Sun on Wednesday.
Meanwhile, it has been revealed footage from the deadly attack is being used for propaganda linked to Islamic State.
One online poster features the car Shire Ali set alight before the stabbing rampage.
“Australia, don’t think you are away from our attacks,” text on the poster reads.
The SITE Intelligence Group, which monitors jihadist threats, said the graphic was issued by the Sunni Shield Media Foundation, which is aligned to Islamic State.
Another poster includes social media footage of Shire Ali trying to stab a police officer.
Text over the image says: “Melbourne today - What is the next city tomorrow??!”
Additional reporting AFP
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