Australia police treat Melbourne stabbing as terror attack
Australian police on Friday said a deadly knife attack in Melbourne was an act of terror, revealing that the deceased suspect was originally from Somalia and was known to intelligence agencies.
"We are now treating this as a terrorism event," said Victoria Police Chief Commissioner Graham Ashton, adding that the suspect is "someone that is known to us" and had travelled to central Melbourne in a 4x4 packed with gas bottles.
Ashton said the attacker -- who was shot by police and later died in custody -- was known by the authorities because of family connections and had been in Australia for decades.
The counter-terrorism command has taken a lead role in the investigation.
One person was killed in the attack and two others were injured.
Police officers who apprehended the suspect are being treated for cuts and scrapes and are not thought to be in a serious condition.
Ashton said the authorities do not see any ongoing threat related to the attack.
Video posted on social media showed a man repeatedly swinging an object at two police officers. One of the officers raises his weapon, a shot is heard and the man falls to the ground clutching his chest.
A Reuters witness said that the city center was closed off by police and that dozens of officers were patrolling.
The street where the car caught fire was the scene in January 2017 of a fatal but not terror-related incident in which a man drove his car at pedestrians at high speed, killing six people and wounding about 30.
(Source: Agencies)
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