A Melbourne cafe legend was stabbed to death during a terrorist’s knife rampage through Bourke Street that injured two others before police gunned the Somali immigrant down.
Sisto Malaspina, 74, was murdered by Hassan Khalif Shire Ali, 30, as he ran to help what he thought was a car crash victim just blocks from his iconic Pellegrini’s coffee shop about 4.20pm on Friday.
However, Khalif had deliberately crashed his Holden Rodeo that was loaded with gas canisters and set the car alight after mounting the pavement near the Swanson Street intersection.
Melbourne cafe legend Sisto Malaspina was stabbed to death during a terrorist’s knife rampage through Bourke Street just blocks form his iconic Pellegrini’s coffee shop
Mr Malaspina’s body was on Friday seen lying in the street covered by a white sheet with a bare foot sticking out after bystanders unsuccessfully tried to save his life
By trying to do a good deed, Mr Malaspina became the murderous knifeman’s first victim. Soon two others would also be stabbed before Khalif attacked police.
Video shot from the scene showed the frenzied attack that carried on for more than a minute as Khalif chased the officers around as they tried to convince him to surrender, before finally shooting him.
Police said Khalif was inspired by ISIS to commit jihad, but they were unsure if he had direct contrast with the terrorist group. ISIS claimed his as one of their own, but often falsely associate themselves with lone wolf attacks.
Khalif’s passport was cancelled several years ago after he was flagged as one of 300 potential security risks and his family were known to counter-terror agencies and believed to have ties with North African extremist groups.
His brother Ali Khalif Shire Ali was arrested in November 2017 over an alleged planned New Year’s Eve attack on Federation Square.
Heartbroken friends and longtime customers left floral tributes to the slain food icon outside the Pellegrini’s, just down Bourke Street near the Exhibition Street intersection.
Staff were in shock and a sign on the door said the cafe would be closed until November 12, with police standing guard outside.
Mr Malaspina’s body was on Friday seen lying in the street covered by a white sheet with a bare foot sticking out after bystanders unsuccessfully tried to save his life.
By trying to do a good deed, Mr Malaspina became the murderous knifeman’s first victim. Soon two others would also be stabbed before Khalif was shot dead by police
Hassan Khalif Shire Ali attempt to stab and slash at two police officers before he was shot and fell to the ground. He earlier stabbed three people and set fire to his car on Melbourne’s Bourke Street
Markel Villasin, 22 and his bosses ran out of their KFC store when they heard a ‘commotion’ and saw Khalif holding a knife and swinging it at police officers.
‘It looked like police officers didn’t know how to handle the situation because obviously in Melbourne it’s so rare,’ Mr Villasin told ABC.
Mr Villasin saw Mr Malaspina was breathing but appeared to be ‘bleeding out’ as he lay in a pool of blood, as emergency responders attempted to resuscitate him using CPR.
‘Unfortunately, the man passed away, they put a sheet on him. It was crazy because he was alive at my feet as they tried to work on him and then he passed away,’ he said.
Markel Villasin, 22, saw Mr Malaspina was breathing but appeared to be ‘bleeding out’ as he lay in a pool of blood, as emergency responders attempted to resuscitate him using CPR
Mr Malaspina came to Australia from Italy and took over Pellegrini’s Espresso Bar in 1976 with his business partner Nino Pangrazio and maintained its original 1954 decor.
The cafe, with its heritage-listed neon sign, became a popular haunt for urban professionals, tourists, and even politicians like former Prime Minister Gough Whitlam.
Heavily-armed officers wearing tactical gear and masks swooped on a home in Werribee linked to Khalif about 8am on Saturday.
The house is believed to be that of the lone wolf terrorist’s father, who also brought up Khalif’s brother Ali Khalif Shire Ali who allegedly plotted an attack on Melbourne’s Federation Square on New Year’s Eve.
His family are inside the house and cooperating with authorities. Khalif’s wife, who police also believe to be radicalised, was missing on Friday night but has since been interviewed by police.