Bourke Street attack: Somali-Australians condemn 'scourge' of terrorism

Somali-Australians have called for unity after a terrorist attack in Melbourne.

Somali Australians are condemning the Bourke Street attack.

Somali Australians are condemning the Bourke Street attack. Source: SBS News, Twitter

Somali-Australians have spoken out after Friday's Bourke Street Mall incident, strongly denouncing the actions of Hassan Khalif Shire Ali.

In what is being treated as a terrorist attack, Mr Shire Ali set a car alight then stabbed three men, one who died from his injuries.

After lunging at an officer with a knife, the 30-year-old Somali-Australian was shot and killed by police.

 

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Acting spokesperson for the Somali Community of Victoria Sharmake Farah told reporters on Saturday the "African-Australian community is shocked and deeply saddened" by Friday's events.

"The overwhelming majority of African-Australians in Victoria are law-abiding and condemn any acts that threaten our peaceful, vibrant and multicultural state ... that we love so dearly."
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Sharmake Farah talks to reporters.
SBS News

"We are members of a wider Australian community. We have to stand united against such acts. And it's important for us to come out and make this statement, to make clear that the act that happened yesterday do not reflect African values."

The Somali Community of Victoria released a statement earlier in the day saying "there is no place for terrorism or extremism in our society".

"Somali-Australians are peaceful people, terrorism is a disease and scourge on society, we must do everything we can to ensure it is eradicated.

The group called on Australians to "come together, to stand against acts of terrorism".

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While IS has claimed responsibility for the attack, security experts say it is too early to confirm whether it was planned or directed by the group.

Director of National Security Policy at the ANU National Security College Jacinta Carroll told SBS News: "IS of course has a methodology where they will claim any attack that in a very broad sense appears to be in line with what their group does... whether they directed it or not".

 

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Presented by Yang J. Joo
Source: SBS News, AAP


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