Shocking criminal past of gunman who opened fire in capital city airport emerges as it’s revealed he tried to kill his ex-wife by stabbing her 27 times
- Man who opened fire at Canberra Airport in August tried to murder his ex-wife
- He stabbed her 27 times and was jailed for 16 years in Western Australian prison
- However, Ali Rachid Ammoun only served 14 years in jail before he was released
- He travelled to Canberra Airport and shot five bullets at the glass window panes
A man who fired five bullets inside a capital city airport was on parole for the attempted murder of his ex-wife who he viciously stabbed 27 times.
The criminal past of Ali Rachid Ammoun, 63, who has pleaded guilty to owning and firing an illegal firearm was revealed in ACT Magistrates Court on Wednesday.
Ammoun arrived at Canberra Airport at about 1.20pm on August 14 and sat near the check-in desks before firing five bullets at glass window panes.
No one was injured during the incident but the major airport was evacuated and remained closed for about three hours – prompting travel chaos.
It has been revealed Ammoun had been on parole after serving 14 years in a Western Australian prison for the attempted murder of his ex-wife, the ABC reports.
The criminal past of Ali Rachid Ammoun, 63, (pictured) who has plead guilty to owning and using a prohibited firearm was revealed in ACT Magistrates Court
Footage posted to Facebook shows Ammoun being apprehended by police inside the airport following the shooting as shocked travellers watch on
The incident occurred at his ex-wife’s mothers home who was also tied up and bashed during the brutal attack in 2007.
Ammoun later rang emergency services and told the operator he wanted to report a murder, saying he had tried to kill his wife and mother-in-law.
He admitted he had stabbed the mother-and-daughter during the call to triple zero.
Ammoun was sentenced to 16 years behind bars in 2009 but had served just over 14 years when he was released.
It was during his parole that he committed the crime that would land him back behind bars – travelling to Canberra Airport and firing five bullets at glass windows.
The shooting sparked travel chaos with some passengers left stranded on their plane while Ammoun was arrested by several officers.
It was during Ammoun’s parole period that he committed the crime that would land him back behind bars – travelling to Canberra and firing five bullets at airport windows (pictured)
Prosecutor Andrew Chatterton told ACT Magistrates Court that they would hear at least 20 victim impact statements from witnesses.
No details have yet been released as to why Ammoun fired the bullets.
Detective Acting Superintendent Dave Craft told a press conference at the time that police had ‘no idea’ of the motivation behind the attack.
He said Ammoun hadn’t targeted any passengers or staff members and had not passed through any flight-screening procedures.
The 63-year-old remains in custody, and is due to be sentenced in February 2023.
***
Read more at DailyMail.co.uk