Security around Melbourne expected to be at an all-time high in light of terror attack in the city

Security around Melbourne will be at an all-time high this weekend as police take every precaution to keep the city safe in light of the violent terror attack on Friday.

Speaking to media on Friday evening, Chief Commissioner Graham Ashton said he has asked police to tighten up security at several major events over the weekend.

He said revellers at Stakes Day at Flemington Racecourse, soccer at AAMI Park and Remembrance Day on Sunday in particular should expect heightened security. 

 

Security around Melbourne will be at an all-time high this weekend as police take every precaution to keep the city safe in light of the violent terror attack on Friday

Commissioner Ashton said revellers at Stakes Day at Flemington Racecourse, soccer at AAMI Park and Remembrance Day on Sunday in particular should expect heightened security.

Commissioner Ashton said revellers at Stakes Day at Flemington Racecourse, soccer at AAMI Park and Remembrance Day on Sunday in particular should expect heightened security.

Commissioner Ashton said the decision to ramp up security was necessary following the terrifying ordeal that unfolded on Bourke St in the heart of Melbourne on Friday. 

‘We are doing security reassessments of those events in light of what’s occurred here in Melbourne in the late afternoon,’ he said. 

The knife-wielding Somali terrorist, who was shot dead by police after crashing a car on Melbourne’s Bourke Street and setting it on fire, before stabbing three men, one fatally, was named as Mohamed Khalif.

The lone wolf attacker, who also goes by the name of Hassan Shire, was rushed to hospital in a critical condition but later died from his wounds.

Officers shot him in the chest after his Holden Rodeo loaded with gas cylinders hit a pedestrian as it mounted the kerb and exploded outside Target near the Swanson Street intersection about 4.20pm on Friday. 

Video shot from the scene showed the frenzied attack that carried on for more than a minute, beginning with Khalif charging at two police officers, punching one through a vehicle window and lunging at them with a knife.

ISIS have since claimed the attack as their own via the propaganda platform, releasing a statement saying ‘the perpetrator of the operation… in Melbourne… was an Islamic State fighter and carried out the operation… to target nationals of the coalition’ fighting IS, Amaq reported, allegedly quoting a jihadist security source.

A knifeman stabbed a shopper to death on Melbourne's Bourke Street Mall and injured two others. A body was seen lying on the street covered in a white sheet

A knifeman stabbed a shopper to death on Melbourne’s Bourke Street Mall and injured two others. A body was seen lying on the street covered in a white sheet

But ISIS have previously claimed responsibility for attacks that were later discovered to be unrelated to the organisation.  

Khalif’s 21-year-old brother, Ali Khalif Shire Ali, was arrested in November of 2017 in relation to a foiled terror attack in Federation Square, also in the heart of Melbourne.

Police intercepted plans to attack the cultural arts precinct on New Years Eve. 

The 31-year-old and his family were known to counter-terror agencies at a state and national level and were believed to have ties with north African extremist groups.

Khalif’s passport was cancelled several years ago after he was noted as one of 300 potential security risks.

It was also noted police are unable to get in touch with the Khalif’s wife, and believe she is both missing and radicalised.

Authorities may be hoping to utilise the state’s preventative detention laws for the first time since they came into effect, in which police are legally allowed to detain a suspect for up to seven days should they believe the person poses a threat or security risk, Herald Sun reported.    

The man again attempted to stab and slash at the officers several times before one policeman unsuccessfully tried to taser him

The other policeman shot the assailant in the chest and he clutched his chest and and fell to the ground

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

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 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

Khalif chased the officers around a tree as they tried to avoid his blows and convince the man to surrender, and a brave bystander tried to stop the attack by running him down with a shopping trolley.

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.

Khalif again attempted to stab and slash at the officers several times before one policeman unsuccessfully tried to taser him.

His partner then shot the assailant in the chest.

The knifeman clutched his chest and and fell to the ground where he was quickly arrested on the pavement by two plain clothing officers and rushed to hospital under police guard, where he later died on the operating table. 

Khalif and his family were known to the Australian Secret Intelligence Organisation after his younger brother’s attempted attack, the country’s domestic spy agency.

His possible links to known terror plotters and extremist elements of the North African community in Australia are being investigated.

Khalif moved to Australia from Somalia in the 1990s, Victoria Police commissioner Graham Ashton said, and had a record of ‘minor’ offences in relation to ‘cannabis use, theft and driving offences’.

‘He is known to police and is known mainly in respect to relatives he has that are certainly persons of interest.’

 Victoria Police commissioner Graham Ashton and Premier Daniel Andrews spoke at a press conference after the attack

 Victoria Police commissioner Graham Ashton and Premier Daniel Andrews spoke at a press conference after the attack

‘He is someone that is known to both Victoria police and at a federal level,’ Mr Ashton said.  

Mr Ashton was asked about reports from eyewitnesses that Khalif screamed ‘Alluha Akhbar’ as he chased pedestrians, to which he could not confirm. 

‘There is no ongoing threat, but this is an ongoing investigation. It will be handled by the counter terrorism command and Victoria Police.’ 

Prime Minister Scott Morrison also 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.’ 

 woWitnesses said the Holden Rodeo hit a pedestrian as it mounted the kerb and burst into flames outside Target near the Swanson Street intersection about 4.20pm on Friday, before the stabbing rampage began

 woWitnesses said the Holden Rodeo hit a pedestrian as it mounted the kerb and burst into flames outside Target near the Swanson Street intersection about 4.20pm on Friday, before the stabbing rampage began

The man was quickly arrested on the pavement by two officers in front of shocked pedestrians who stood back to film it

He was rushed to hospital under police guard in a critical condition

The man was quickly arrested on the pavement by two officers in front of shocked pedestrians who stood back to film it

Victoria Police said officers responded to reports of a car fire before they were confronted by the man. 

‘Officers were confronted by a male brandishing a knife and threatening them,’ Superintendent David Clayton said.  

Counter Terrorism Command in conjunction with the Homicide Squad will investigate the incident but police do not perceive any ongoing threats at this stage and are not looking for anyone else in relation to the attack.

‘The exact circumstances are yet to be determined at this stage. The area has been cordoned off and the public are urged to avoid the area,’ they said earlier.

Khalif was taken to Royal Melbourne Hospital in a critical condition after he was shot in the chest, where he later died.

One of his victims had a head injury, and another an unknown injury. The men were 26 and 58-years-old. Witnesses said one of those injured was a security guard who tried to intervene.  

Two victims lie on the ground in pools of blood after being stabbed by the knifeman in the street, as bystanders rush to their aid

Two victims lie on the ground in pools of blood after being stabbed by the knifeman in the street, as bystanders rush to their aid

One witness said he was 'terrified' after seeing a body covered in a white sheet on the footpath

One witness said he was ‘terrified’ after seeing a body covered in a white sheet on the footpath

Victoria Police said officers responded to reports of a car fire (pictured) before they were confronted by the man 

Victoria Police said officers responded to reports of a car fire (pictured) before they were confronted by the man 

Witnesses said the car hit a pedestrian as it mounted the kerb outside Target near the Swanson Street intersection about 4.20pm on Friday

Witnesses said the car hit a pedestrian as it mounted the kerb outside Target near the Swanson Street intersection about 4.20pm on Friday

Witnesses described a chaotic scene with an injured pedestrian lying on the ground, and numerous police cars and helicopters flying overhead.

‘Police response was swift and overwhelming. I heard at least one gunshot initially,’ one said.

Another said they heard ‘what sounded like a bomb and gun shot’.

‘Roads are blocked and police advising to stay away from Bourke St. Feels like de ja vu,’ they said, referring to the car attack on Bourke Street Mall last year that killed six people.

Panicked pedestrians ran in all directions away from the scene, some hiding in nearby cafes and shops, locking themselves in back rooms.

The area was locked down and the public shooed away while stores including Myer, Target, and David Jones evacuated and the bomb squad was called in to assess the car.

The burned-out car sitting where it crashed on to the pavement and exploded before the rampage began

The burned-out car sitting where it crashed on to the pavement and exploded before the rampage began

The area was locked down with the public shooed away and stores including Myer, Target, and David Jones evacuated and the bomb squad called in to assess the car

The area was locked down with the public shooed away and stores including Myer, Target, and David Jones evacuated and the bomb squad called in to assess the car

 

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