By Hannah Hammoud and Angus Delaney
Heroic citizens intervened to protect members of the public twice on Monday afternoon, dramatically apprehending two different men allegedly wielding knives in apparently unrelated incidents in Melbourne’s north-west.
Police were first called to reports of a 37-year-old man armed with a knife outside Lil Kitch cafe in Moonee Ponds on Monday at about 3.30pm, where they allege the man was behaving erratically on Puckle Street.
Marcellino Bidawid said he was working in the cafe when the man appeared at the doorway, allegedly with a large kitchen knife.
“A mother saw the guy walking around the corner, and she’s yelled out ‘he’s got a knife’ while her little boy was at the door,” Bidawid said. “The dad jumped in, and he’s grabbed the door and held it shut.”
The alleged attacker had then “thrown a couple of punches” at the cafe window before tossing outdoor dining chairs onto the street.
In a moment of bravery, a Good Samaritan witnessing the incident, picked up one of the chairs and used it to knock back the knife-wielding man. That’s when Bidawid and some cafe patrons ran outside to assist, wresting the knife from the man’s grip, apprehending him and calling the police.
Bidawid said the incident was “pretty full on” and the young boy near the cafe door, closest to the alleged offender, was “very very scared” and “in tears”. He said he didn’t think twice about running to help apprehend the man.
“I know it’s not always the smart thing to do, but you try your best to try and keep them [customers] safe,” said Bidawid.
No one was injured, and police expect to charge the 37-year-old on summons with possessing a controlled weapon. Investigators are treating this as an isolated incident.
An hour later, police were again called to Moonee Ponds for a second knife-related incident following reports that a man was stabbed on the street.
Credit: Nine
Police were called to Homer Street outside Moonee Ponds Central at about 4.35pm after a verbal argument between two males escalated. Police allege a 55-year-old Fitzroy man, Abdulalim Taher, produced a knife and stabbed a 44-year-old man from Essendon.
Footage of the incident shows three adults, one of whom police say was the victim, restraining the man and bringing him to the ground before police arrived. On Tuesday, police charged Taher with intentionally and recklessly causing serious injury and assault with a weapon.
The victim, who sustained minor injuries, was taken to hospital in stable condition.
After being stabbed, the victim, with the help of passers-by, managed to restrain the alleged offender until police arrived and took him into custody.
Police were called to reports of a stabbing outside Moonee Ponds Central.Credit: Nine News
Speaking on Monday evening, Acting Inspector Raj Tillekeratne said police believed the second incident was random and isolated.
Tillekeratne said that while the phrase “Allahu Akbar” was used by the alleged offender after he was in custody, police do not believe it was said during the attack itself, and there is nothing to indicate that any ideology is the motive behind the attack.
“As part of our normal inquiries, we have contacted the counter-terrorism command, and we have nothing to indicate that this is either religiously or politically motivated, so we’re just treating it as random, isolated offending,” he said.
“This male has significant mental health priors that we have had contact with him in the past. He’s been involved in minor offending. There’s nothing to indicate there’s anything other than that.”
Tillekeratne confirmed there is no ongoing threat to the community, and they are not looking for anyone else in relation to the incident. Police will be increasing patrols in the area to further reassure the community.
Moonee Valley Mayor Ava Adams witnessed the attack outside Moonee Ponds Central, describing the victim as a valued local trader.
“My thoughts are just with the victim. I’ve received an update this morning that he’s in a stable condition,” she said.
Speaking to ABC Radio Melbourne, Adams recounted seeing a confrontation unfold between two people as she was leaving the shopping centre in her car.
“Then I saw the man with a knife, just lunge at the poor victim, who I recognised as one of our really important local traders,” she said.
“It’s not something that you see every day in Moonee Ponds. It’s quite a safe area.”
Adams said the timing of the attack was unsettling during school holidays, with children present on Puckle and Homer streets.
After calling triple-zero, the mayor said police arrived within minutes, adding that she was proud of the local community for stepping in to help.
“We are a really tight-knit community in Moonee Valley, and people do really look after each other. And this was just a great demonstration of that. There was no hesitation on the Good Samaritans,” she said.
Merri-bek Crime Investigation Unit detectives are investigating the incident.
Taher was remanded to appear before the Melbourne Magistrates’ Court on Tuesday, but the matter was adjourned for the following day.
According to a police brief provided to the court, Taher is diagnosed with schizophrenia.
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