Police shoot man dead after ‘frenzied attack’ in Auburn, Sydney

The 32-year-old man was gunned down in Sydney’s west overnight, after he knifed a cleaner then attempted to attack police.

Auburn Police Station in western Sydney. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Christian Gilles.

An Indian national was shot dead by police after he launched a “frenzied ­attack” on a cleaner and stormed a Sydney police station brandishing a knife.

Mohamed Rahmathullah Syed Ahmed, 32, burst through the turnstiles at Auburn railway station at 12.03am on Tuesday and stabbed a 28-year-old cleaner, who suffered wounds to his forearm and hip.

Minutes later Mr Syed Ahmed arrived at Auburn police station where he allegedly attacked two officers, who were leaving to ­respond to reports of the train ­station stabbing.

A senior male constable drew his Glock pistol and fired three shots while a probationary constable drew her Taser, police said.

Mr Syed Ahmed was shot twice in the chest.

He was taken to Westmead Hospital where he died.

Assistant Commissioner Stuart Smith said Mr Syed Ahmed had been living in Sydney on a student visa since 2019.

“When someone arms themselves with a knife, stabs an individual and then tries to attack … it’s highly concerning,” he said.

“It would have been a stressful situation for the officers. They had no alternative but to respond.

“When that’s involved, it ­triggers a number of intelligence responses and investigative ­responses, which we’re dealing with as we speak.”

Assistant Commissioner Smith said it was a “lone actor event”. The cleaner just happened to be the first person Mr Syed Ahmed came across and was “set upon without warning”.

An investigation into the circumstances surrounding the incident will be carried out by a critical incident team.