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Victoria police were not aware of mental health issues with the man at the center of a terrorist attack in central Melbourne that killed one person and injured two others.
The family of Hassan Khalif Shire Ali, 30, said he was mentally ill before the Friday attack in Bourke Street.
Shire Ali was shot dead by police after bombarding his car and stabbing three men, killing 74-year-old Pellegrini co-owner Sisto Malaspina.
"It's certainly a terrorist act in its intent," said chief executive Graham Ashton on ABC Radio Melbourne on Monday.
"I could not see any official record of mental health problems, but that does not mean that there was not any."
Deputy Commissioner for Specialized Operations Shane Patton said the Victoria police had "minor" interactions with Shire Ali.
These included driving offenses and arrest for failing to appear in court. The police were also investigating allegations that he was involved in an assault on a restaurant in the northern suburbs.
"These people can degenerate very quickly and there can be very minor problems that are a catalyst to trigger them," he said.
Mr. Patton also downplayed the concerns of Australia's efforts in coordinating the terrorist response that needed to be rethought, highlighting the already existing counter-terrorism command unit and the response. Victoria police on Friday.
"Undoubtedly, our settings are correct and the resources are very, very good.The answer from us, if you saw, was so fast Friday," he told ABC radio on Monday .
"They intervened, acted in accordance with their training and bravely treated this terrorist, and he was shot dead very quickly."
In 2015, the federal authorities canceled his passport for Shire Ali, fearing that this man born in Somalia would try to go to Syria to fight for an Islamic state.
His family said he had mental health problems.
"Hassan has been suffering from a mental illness for years and has refused help and has been deteriorating for a few months," they said in a note given to reporters.
"Please, stop turning this into a political game.This is not a guy who had links to terrorism but who was just asking for help."
The federal government continues to urge the Muslim community to work more closely with the authorities to curb the extremists.
Ashton said Monday that the Victoria police had good relations with the council of the imam and the Muslim community of the state.
Flowers and tributes continue to flood Pellegrini's family and Mr. Malaspina's family has been seen offering national funerals as the city continues to mourn the tragedy.
Tasmanian businessman Rod Patterson and a 24-year-old security guard were also injured in the attack.
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