One person has been shot dead and two police officers have been stabbed after an incident in Melbourne.
Police at the scene of a shooting near Endeavour Hills police station. Picture: Mike Keating Source: News Corp Australia
A member of the bomb squad dons protective gear after the shooting near Endeavour Hills police station. Picture: Mike Keating Source: News Corp Australia
FEDERAL Justice Minister Michael Keenan says a teenager shot dead in Melbourne was “a known terror suspect who was a person of interest to law enforcement and intelligence agencies”.
The 18-year-old Narre Warren man, who police believe may have previously displayed an ISIS flag, met the officers outside Endeavour Hills police station on the city’s outskirts on Tuesday night.
He then stabbed one, an AFP officer, a number of times, before twice stabbing a Victorian officer in the forearm.
“The person in question was a known terror suspect who was a person of interest to law enforcement and intelligence agencies,” Mr Keenan told reporters in Canberra today.
“The person in question came to the Endeavour Hills police station in Melbourne’s south-east of his own volition, following discussions with police earlier on last night.
“He has then carried out an unprovoked attack on the two officers at about 7.45pm’’.
“The incident occurred during a police investigation and it appears that the shooting by the police officer was in self-defence.
“Whilst this is a horrible incident, we do need to remain calm and go about our daily lives. The police are our front line against people who wish to do us harm and it is exactly this type of bravery and dedication shown by these officers that will continue to keep our communities safe and secure.
Mr Keenan said the AFP officer was in a “serious but stable” condition and the Victorian police officer was also “stable”.
“The Australian government’s thoughts and my personal thoughts are with the injured officers and their families at this time,” he said.
Opposition legal affairs spokesman Mark Dreyfus said: “Our thoughts go out to both officers who were involved in what was a terrible incident.”
Opposition legal affairs spokesman Mark Dreyfus said: “Our thoughts go out to both officers who were involved in what was a terrible incident.”
The dead man, 18, had reportedly made threats against Prime Minister Tony Abbott and allegedly stabbed two officers, who were rushed to hospital.
Mr Keenan has been updating Mr Abbott about the incident while the leader travels to New York for a United Nations Security Council meeting.
He also briefed the opposition.
Victorian Premier Denis Napthine was briefed on the incident late last night.
Sources had said that the dead man was a “known extremist” and that the stabbings had occurred without warning outside the station.
Police at the scene of the shooting, near Endeavour Hills police station, in Melbourne’s southeast. Picture: Mike Keating Source: News Corp Australia
The Islamic Council of Victoria (ICV) has this morning released a statement expressing their “deep sorrow” over the shooting of the 18 year old terror suspect and calling for a full “objective” investigation.
“Events that, on face value, should not have cost a young man his life and put two police officers in hospital. There needs to be a full and objective investigation into this incident to ensure that such a tragedy is never repeated,” the statement just released says.
“Our focus, at this time, is on supporting the family of the young man; ensuring that their needs are catered for. There will be many questions that they will want answers to and in the fullness of time we expect that the events of last night will become clearer.”
“This tragedy highlights the real cost of a failure to deal with these serious issues and why we have made numerous calls on the Australian government to deal with the root causes of alienation and disaffection of people such as this. This is not about laying blame but about a genuine need to identify the root causes and deal with them so that no further tragedies such as this occur again.”
Police said they had received intelligence the victim had recently been seen waving an Islamic State flag but stressed the investigation was at an early stage.
Victoria Police assistant commissioner Luke Cornelius said it was believed the dead man had been acting alone and that police had “no choice” but to shoot after being assaulted.
“Our members had no inkling that this individual posed a threat to them,” he told reporters at the scene.
“It’s absolutely clear to us that our members really had no choice other than to act in the way in which they did.”
AFP commander Bruce Giles said the man had arrived at the south-eastern Melbourne police station of Endeavour Hills under his own steam.
The officers had wanted to speak to the man about a “routine” issue, Commander Giles said.
“Police had cause for concern,” he said.
The officers and the man had spoken cordially before the stabbing, Commander Giles said.
“The incident took place in the course of normal greetings — so meeting with the individual, shaking hands, introducing and then the incident unfolded,” he said.
Investigators at a property near Endeavour Hills police station. Picture: Mike Keating Source: News Corp Australia
Neither police spokesman would comment on media reports that the man had made specific threats against Mr Abbott.
Mr Cornelius said police had not singled the man out.
“Where we see individuals behaving in a way which causes concern for public safety, we have to reach out to those individuals,” he said.
Police would not confirm the man’s name or occupation.
Bomb squad members and police dogs scanned the scene, but Mr Cornelius said the measures were precautionary.
The homicide squad and professional standards division are investigating the incident.
It was too soon to say whether he had his passport cancelled as part of the recent clampdown due to rising tensions in the Middle East.
Victoria Police Assistant Commissioner Luke Cornelius and AFP Commander Bruce Giles address the media after the shooting. Source: Supplied
The shooting came five days after anti-terrorism raids across Sydney and Brisbane thwarted an alleged plot to seize a member of the public and film them being beheaded. The attack was allegedly given the go-ahead by Mohamed Ali Baryalei, the most senior Australian in the ranks of Islamic State.
Fifteen people were detained in last week’s raids, one of whom, Omarjan Azari, appeared briefly in Sydney’s Central Local Court, charged with acting in preparation, or planning, for a terrorist attack. He was denied bail.
Last night’s operation involved AFP officers and Victoria Police.
Two police officers were taken to Dandenong hospital after being stabbed. Picture: Andrew Batsch Source: News Corp Australia
Teams of detectives swarmed the area, searching for evidence and interviewing witnesses.
The bomb squad was called in with robotic equipment to check the scene for possible explosives, although Mr Cornelius said this was routine and not based on any intelligence.
Dr Napthine left an election debate early to be briefed on developments by Victoria Police Chief Commissioner Ken Lay.
It was reported at least one shot was fired before police and ambulance officers arrived to help the victims. One of the stabbing victims was taken to nearby Dandenong Hospital in a stable condition, while the other was taken to The Alfred hospital, possibly more seriously injured.
Analysts have warned of the strong likelihood of arrests in Melbourne.
Mr Cornelius said it was still vital that police were able to reach out to the broader community while the terrorism concerns remain.
“It is our belief at this stage it is an isolated incident,” he said.
“We have to reach out to these individuals.
“It has ended in tragic circumstances.”
ADDITIONAL REPORTING: PATRICIA KARVELAS, PAUL MALEY, GINA RUSHTON
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