The Somali-born terrorist who stabbed three men, one fatally, in a horror rampage through Melbourne’s city had a drug and alcohol dependency that caused his life to ‘spiral out of control’, according to a close family friend.
Hassan Khalif Shire Ali, 30, had broken Somali tradition and moved out of his family’s Werribee home after arguing with his parents ahead of the attack.
He has also been revealed to have split with his wife in the days leading up to the horrific incident, storming out of their home as she desperately chased after him, the Herald Sun reported.
The Somali-born terrorist Hassan Khalif Shire Ali (pictured) who stabbed three men, killing one, has been revealed to have a drug dependency
Ali, 30, had become increasingly ‘delusional’ leading up to the attack on Bourke Street in Melbourne (pictured)
His wife, who is yet to be named, was reported as missing when they raided Ali’s home on Friday night.
She was initially suspected to be radicalised but was found and interviewed by police on Saturday afternoon.
The couple were living in a converted garage at the back of an unassuming young family’s home in Meadow Heights, north of Melbourne.
They had split less than a week before Friday’s attack.
Ali had moved there with his wife and their young child amid a strained relationship with his parents.
According to a family friend and imam – a prayer leader in mosques – it is against Somali tradition to leave the family home before marriage.
Police spoke to neighbours of a Werribee address raided by officers on Saturday
Ali lunged at police with a knife before he was shot in the chest in what police say was an ‘uncoordinated’ attack
The family friend, Isse Musse, told The Age Ali had become more ‘delusional’ ahead of the attack.
‘[He was] complaining he was being chased by unseen people with spears,’ Musse said.
‘If a person is Muslim and has a mental health problem, then Islam will be one of the things they may speak.’
Counter-terrorism authorities raided two homes on Saturday, seizing bags of evidence
Ali’s family reportedly became worried about him after years of drug abuse and mental health struggles. Pictured: A home in Werribee raided by police Saturday afternoon
His family reportedly became worried about him after years of drug abuse and mental health struggles that caused his life to ‘spiral out of control’.
A history of drug use was confirmed by Victoria Police Chief Commissioner Graham Ashton, who told reporters Ali had prior convictions for drug-related offences.
He was required to complete 250 hours of unpaid community service and undergo drug testing and rehabilitation for a 2012 offence.
Police stormed the bungalow in Meadow Heights about 3am Saturday, with one neighbour saying he heard officers shouting ‘come out, come out’.
They later raided a Werribee home, believed to be Ali’s father’s.
Masked officers were seen standing in front of the property as forensic teams scoured the home on Saturday afternoon, hauling bags of evidence into their car.
Coffee maestro Sisto Malaspina, 74, died from stab wounds to his face after he rushed to help Ali out of his burning crashed car
Tasmanian man Rodney Patterson (right) survived his wounds and says he’s ‘doing okay’
Ali stabbed three men in his rampage through Melbourne’s inner-city Bourke Street.
His first victim, 74-year-old coffee maestro Sisto Malaspina, died from his injuries.
Tributes have poured out for Malaspina whose Pellegrini’s Espresso Bar was considered an instrumental institution for Melbourne’s coffee scene.
Malaspina rushed to the wreck of Ali’s car to offer his assistance, but instead was met with a knife.
His other two victims survived their injuries and are recovering in hospital.
One was a 24-year-old security guard who was stabbed in the neck while on duty. Harrowing footage of the attack shows him running away, leaving a trail of blood.
The other surviving victim was revealed to be 58-year-old Tasmanian man Rodney Patterson, who says he is also ‘doing okay’.
His wife Maree said the couple were ‘caught up in the attack’ as her husband was stabbed by Ali, who was shot and killed by police.