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An Australian of Somali origin who embarked on a murderous knife war in the country's second city, Melbourne, was inspired by the Islamic State but has no direct link with the jihadist group, announced Sunday the government.
Hassan Khalif Shire Ali, stabbed to death, Sisto Malaspina, co-owner of a well-known cafe, wounded two other men in Bourke Street, in the heart of Melbourne on Friday afternoon, before being shot by the police.
The 30-year-old had traveled to the busy city aboard a utility vehicle filled with gas cylinders before igniting.
The Islamic State (IS) stated through the intermediary of its propaganda arm that Shire Ali was an "Islamic State fighter and had carried out the operation", but was not the only one. provided no evidence in support of his application.
"With regard to his relations with ISIL (other name of the IS) or with a terrorist group … there is not, as I was advised, membership of an organization or some link with ISIL, "said Interior Minister Peter Dutton reporters in Brisbane.
"The working theory is at the moment a case where this person downloads information or receives messages in his own thinking about what he should do.It is inspired by opposition to the 39, affiliation or membership. "
Shire Ali, known to the Australian Security Intelligence Organization (ASIO), saw his passport withdrawn in 2015, fearing that he would only travel to Syria to join the organization. EI.
But the authorities also felt that it did not pose an internal threat.
Dutton defended the actions of the ASIO, claiming that they had more than 400 investigations and people of interest to watch.
"The police did not learn about this person that she was about to commit an act," he added.
"The fact is that a lot of people, especially where there is little sophistication, where you have someone who can grab a knife in a kitchen drawer … It's impossible for the authorities to cover each of these circumstances. "
Dutton's comments were reported while Melbourne's Herald Sun reported Sunday that Shire Ali had drug and alcohol problems, was separated from his wife and had distanced himself from his family.
The Melbourne Age has raised questions about his mental health, citing an imam from the region who reportedly said that Shire Ali told him that he was "being pursued by strangers with spears".
Meanwhile, more than $ 50,000 (US $ 36,000) was raised on GoFundMe for a passerby man called "trolley man", who was hailed as a hero for trying to stop Shire Ali by knocking him over with a shopping cart.
The man, named in the local media under the name of Michael Rogers, is homeless according to the creators of the GoFundMe page.
Authorities say more than a dozen terrorist attacks have been prevented in recent years, but several have occurred, including a coffee headquarters in Sydney in 2014, where two hostages were killed.
Shire Ali 's brother will be subject to a trial next year under two terrorism – related indictments, accused of attempting to acquire a firearm at gunpoint. fire and killing people in a crowd taking place on New Year's Eve.
