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A man from Somalia and known intelligence services killed a person with a knife and wounded two others on Friday in the heart of Melbourne, during an attack that the Australian police considers a "terrorist act" ". which has been claimed by the Islamic State.
"We now treat this act as a terrorist act," said Graham Ashton, chief of police of the state of Victoria in southern Australia. The suspect, captured by police and dead in custody, was "known" by the security services and his 4×4 vehicle was full of gas cylinders, he added.
Residence in Australia
The Islamic State jihadist group (IS) claimed responsibility through its propaganda agency Amaq. "The author of the operation […] in Melbourne […] was a fighter of the Islamic State and led the operation in response to calls to attack citizens of member countries of the US-led anti-jihadist coalition, said Amaq.
The investigators had initially stated that the man had no connection with terrorism, but Ashton claimed subsequently that he was known for his family ties and had been living in Australia for decades.
Armed with a knife, the attacker killed one person and wounded two others before d & # 39; To be shot by the police.According to witnesses, the man allegedly began attacking pbadersby near the vehicle that had driven them to central Melbourne.
One person died on the scene and two others were treated at the hospital, said the president.
The attack was recorded in Melbourne CBD around 4:20 pm local time when people started leaving work for the weekend.
In videos recorded by witnesses, you can see The police attempt to stop the man without violence for at least a minute, while the suspect throws several shots with his gun.
The man, tall and dressed in a black dress, made big gestures with his arms. trying to stab in front of his burning vehicle.
Two people trying to help the police: a man armed with a bar chair and another, quickly dubbed the "Australian hero" on social networks. He is trying to shoot down the attacker with a supermarket cart.
But the attack continues and after a while, a policeman uses his gun and shoots the attacker. According to the police, the author died half an hour after arriving at the hospital, after being shot in the chest.
Police asked for witnesses
The police asked the population to avoid the area, although he excluded other suspects: "We are not looking for anyone to visit. other for the moment. "
Investigators also sent a demining team to the scene to inspect the neighborhood and examine the burning vehicle. "The exact circumstances have yet to be determined, the area has been cordoned off," added the investigators who called witnesses.
"A man was arrested at the scene and transferred to the hospital under a crucial police escort," he said. Police Commissioner David Clayton. Emergency services said they treated three people at the site of the attack.
Melbourne is Australia's second largest city, with 5 million inhabitants, known for its cafes, bars and restaurants, as well as
The attack coincides with the lawsuit of 39, a 28-year-old man, James Gargasoulas, who in 2017 hit his vehicle in the crowd, killing six people. 00
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