The police officer who was forced to shoot Bourke Street terrorist Hassan Khalif Shire Ali only graduated from the police academy three months ago.
The Somali-born 30-year-old stabbed three men, one fatally, during his Friday afternoon rampage through the heart of Melbourne.
Within minutes of Ali’s car bursting into flames on a footpath, two junior officers arrived on the scene and attempted to diffuse the situation.
They employed every aspect of their training to the highest standard, Police Commissioner Graham Ashton said.
The officers then retreated to the other side of the road as the bearded attacker with a shaved head and dressed in a long brown tunic, pursued them as horrified bystanders called on police to shoot him
‘The first thing the officers are trained to do is to look to create space, which is technically known as ‘corner and contain’ and have a conversation to try to verbally de-escalate. That was attempted but that didn’t prove to be possible,’ he said.
He said after methods of coercion are deemed useless, officers are required to pull out any defensive weapons they may use, including capsicum spray, batons, firearms and occasionally tasers.
When Ali frenziedly continued to lunge at the junior officers with a knife in hand, one of them pulled his gun and shot him directly in the chest – putting an end to the terror.
The officer who fired his gun had only been on the job for three weeks, according to The Age.
All police officers begin their careers with 31 weeks of intense training at the Victoria Police Academy. Training is considered both physical and academic.
‘They honestly handled it as well as they could…I couldn’t tell you how I’d react, those two blokes will never have a harder job in their career,’ another junior officer within the Victoria police force told Daily Mail Australia.
Video showed a man wielding a knife attempt to stab and slash at two police officers before he was shot and fell to the ground, and also a brave shopper try to hit him with a trolley (pictured)
Victoria Police said officers responded to reports of a car fire (pictured) before they were confronted by the man
Commissioner Ashton said officers are trained to use their firearms when they feel lives are threatened, or if they’re at serious harm.
And if they are forced to pull their weapons, they have one target.
‘They’re certainly trained, if they’re going to be shooting, to shoot to kill,’ he said.
Both officers underwent mandatory drug testing and formal interviews after the attack, and are said to be in high spirits, if a little shaken.
The officers were commended by the likes of Prime Minister Scott Morrison, Bill Shorten and Daniel Andrews for their bravery after the horror attack, later claimed by ISIS.
Victoria Police commissioner Graham Ashton and Premier Daniel Andrews spoke at a press conference after the attack
One witness said he was ‘terrified’ after seeing a body covered in a white sheet on the footpath
Prime Minister Scott Morrison released a statement condemning the actions of the assailant.
‘Australians will never be intimidated by these appalling attacks and we will continue to go about our lives and enjoy the freedoms that the terrorists detest,’ he wrote.
‘I praise the bravery of the police who were on the scene and took action and those who selflessly came to the assistance of the injured and provided comfort to the distressed.’
Opposition leader Bill Shorten also praised the bravery of ‘our extraordinary police officers who acted so swiftly and professionally in Melbourne’s CBD… and the passers-by whose first instinct was to go to the aid of others.’
Melbourne Lord Mayor Sally Capp praised emergency services for their efforts and the city for coming together to support each other.
‘Melburnians should be reassured by the rapid response from Victoria Police and emergency services who worked quickly, bravely and effectively to minimise harm to the public and contain the situation,’ she said.
‘I’m proud of the way our community responded respectfully to police instructions at the scene.