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Melbourne siege: police investigate gunman Yacqub Khayre's terrorism links - live Melbourne siege: Turnbull says gunman Yacqub Khayre should not have been on parole – live
(35 minutes later)
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The former prime minister Tony Abbott has been on 2GB radio this morning discussing counter-terrorism strategies. He has advocated for further efforts to destroy the Islamic State caliphate.
“The first step is to redouble our efforts to crush the so-called caliphate in the Middle East,” Abbott said.
“The second step is to redouble our efforts to ensure no returning jihadists are loose on our streets and the third step is to take much more vigorous measures to close down these centres of hate preaching.”
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These are images of the gunman Yacqub Khayre. He is pictured here in 2010, leaving court in Melbourne.
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The press conference has now ended. In one of the final questions, the prime minister is asked to provide a clear and concise definition of terrorism, as opposed to an “act of violence”.
He responds:
“An act of terrorism is politically – in a nutshell, is politically motivated violence. But, in this case, the offender made it – stated that he was doing this on behalf of Isil and al-Qaida.”
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Turnbull said the terror threat level, currently at “probable”, was under constant review but had not changed.
“The threat level is under constant review and it is not changed. The advice that we have from the Victoria Police, and that is confirmed by the commissioner... this act, this terrorist attack, the understanding it is not part of a coordinated attack, there were not others involved,” Turnbull said.
Phelan adds that to raise it to the next level, “very specific intelligence” of a planned attack was needed.
“We do not have that intelligence. At the moment, there is no suggestion this matter will expand further,” Phelan said.
“Having said that, we must be careful. There are search warrants at the person’s residence. The crime scene is secured. We have the electronic data of the person in interest.”
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Phelan said joint counter-terrorism taskforces around the country were currently engaged in 70 operations across Australia. He said 200 individuals were currently being looked at closely, in addition to an “outer ring” who have come to the attention of authorities.Phelan said joint counter-terrorism taskforces around the country were currently engaged in 70 operations across Australia. He said 200 individuals were currently being looked at closely, in addition to an “outer ring” who have come to the attention of authorities.
“We are constantly putting people under review, depending on the intelligence that comes through, ongoing investigations,” he said.“We are constantly putting people under review, depending on the intelligence that comes through, ongoing investigations,” he said.
“It is not a stagnant process that does not move -- people move in and out of the rings.”“It is not a stagnant process that does not move -- people move in and out of the rings.”
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The Australian federal police acting commissioner, Michael Phelan, said the attack underlined the very real terror threat in Australia. He said that, since the terror threat level was raised to probable in 2014, authorities had disrupted 12 planned attacks. There had been five counter-terrorism incidents since that time, Phelan said.The Australian federal police acting commissioner, Michael Phelan, said the attack underlined the very real terror threat in Australia. He said that, since the terror threat level was raised to probable in 2014, authorities had disrupted 12 planned attacks. There had been five counter-terrorism incidents since that time, Phelan said.
“The events of yesterday do demonstrate the threat of terror is real in this country,” he said.“The events of yesterday do demonstrate the threat of terror is real in this country,” he said.
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Turnbull said problems with parole must be addressed as a matter of high priority. The prime minster said he will raise the issue with premiers and chief ministers at the next Council of Australian Governments meeting.Turnbull said problems with parole must be addressed as a matter of high priority. The prime minster said he will raise the issue with premiers and chief ministers at the next Council of Australian Governments meeting.
“There have been too many cases of people on parole committing violent offences of this kind,” Turnbull said.“There have been too many cases of people on parole committing violent offences of this kind,” Turnbull said.
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Turnbull said there were “very grave” questions that must be answered after the attack. He questioned why Khayre was released on parole, given his extensive criminal history and links with terror.Turnbull said there were “very grave” questions that must be answered after the attack. He questioned why Khayre was released on parole, given his extensive criminal history and links with terror.
“I have raised these today with the Victorian premier, whom I called last night and I called again this morning,” Turnbull said.“I have raised these today with the Victorian premier, whom I called last night and I called again this morning,” Turnbull said.
“How was this man on parole? He had a long record of violence. A very long record of violence. He had been charged with a terrorist offence some years ago and had been acquitted.“How was this man on parole? He had a long record of violence. A very long record of violence. He had been charged with a terrorist offence some years ago and had been acquitted.
“He was known to have connections, at least in the past, with violent extremism. But he was a known violent offender, how was he on parole?”“He was known to have connections, at least in the past, with violent extremism. But he was a known violent offender, how was he on parole?”
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Turnbull condemns attack as 'a shocking, cowardly crime'Turnbull condemns attack as 'a shocking, cowardly crime'
The prime minister, Malcolm Turnbull, is speaking to the media about the attack now. He has described the attack as shocking and cowardly.The prime minister, Malcolm Turnbull, is speaking to the media about the attack now. He has described the attack as shocking and cowardly.
“It is a terrorist attack and it underlines the need for us to be constantly vigilant, never to be deterred, always defiant, in the face of Islamist terrorism,” Turnbull said.“It is a terrorist attack and it underlines the need for us to be constantly vigilant, never to be deterred, always defiant, in the face of Islamist terrorism,” Turnbull said.
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Paul KarpPaul Karp
Last night the One Nation leader, Pauline Hanson, was quick to respond to the Brighton incident, labelling the gunman a terrorist and calling for police to be empowered to “turn terror watch lists into TERROR STOP LISTS”.Last night the One Nation leader, Pauline Hanson, was quick to respond to the Brighton incident, labelling the gunman a terrorist and calling for police to be empowered to “turn terror watch lists into TERROR STOP LISTS”.
Seems the #Brighton terrorist was known to police. We must empower the police & turn terror watch lists into TERROR STOP LISTS! -PH #auspolSeems the #Brighton terrorist was known to police. We must empower the police & turn terror watch lists into TERROR STOP LISTS! -PH #auspol
Later, she retweeted the Herald Sun’s front page identifying the gunman as Yacqub Khayre:Later, she retweeted the Herald Sun’s front page identifying the gunman as Yacqub Khayre:
Exclusive: The #brighton gunman was Yacqub Khayre, once accused of taking part in an Islamic terror plot to attack an Australian army base pic.twitter.com/EFfxdVEoS9Exclusive: The #brighton gunman was Yacqub Khayre, once accused of taking part in an Islamic terror plot to attack an Australian army base pic.twitter.com/EFfxdVEoS9
Hanson has been highly active on social media using the Manchester attacks to push her policies. As my colleague Gabrielle Chan reported, Hanson used a London police message – designed to keep residents safe as the attacks were unfolding – to create a meme to end Islamic immigration in Australia.Hanson has been highly active on social media using the Manchester attacks to push her policies. As my colleague Gabrielle Chan reported, Hanson used a London police message – designed to keep residents safe as the attacks were unfolding – to create a meme to end Islamic immigration in Australia.
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Barnaby Joyce urges Australians to take attack 'in our stride'Barnaby Joyce urges Australians to take attack 'in our stride'
Paul KarpPaul Karp
The deputy prime minister, Barnaby Joyce, has called on Australians to “make sure we take this in our stride” in relation to the Melbourne attack.The deputy prime minister, Barnaby Joyce, has called on Australians to “make sure we take this in our stride” in relation to the Melbourne attack.
“As hard as it is to say that, [we should] continue on with the people who we are ... who love the freedom that we have and whose greatest protection is our own observations and intelligence on issues that are happening around us.”“As hard as it is to say that, [we should] continue on with the people who we are ... who love the freedom that we have and whose greatest protection is our own observations and intelligence on issues that are happening around us.”
Asked about the attacker being known to police, Joyce said the issue would be investigated to determine “why this person was in the position he was” including “why he had the freedom of access that he had”.Asked about the attacker being known to police, Joyce said the issue would be investigated to determine “why this person was in the position he was” including “why he had the freedom of access that he had”.
Joyce said it would be “impossible” to “lock up every suspect in the nation” so the justice system had to determine “who is the greatest risk and who is the lesser risk.Joyce said it would be “impossible” to “lock up every suspect in the nation” so the justice system had to determine “who is the greatest risk and who is the lesser risk.
“If we have to further investigate that, we will.”“If we have to further investigate that, we will.”
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Police and state government press conference
Just wrapping up what we know following that press conference:
Gunman Yacqub Khayre, an Australian national, was shot dead by police after emerging from the Brighton apartment complex with a sawn-off shotgun
Khayre had lured a woman to the complex using an escort service, before taking her hostage. She is traumatised but uninjured
The man he killed was working at the serviced apartments and appeared to be in the wrong place at the wrong time
Khayre was on parole at the time of the attack and was jailed for an armed robbery. His time in custody was extended for poor behaviour in prison
Police say he was compliant with his parole conditions and there was nothing that presented him as a major concern to intelligence officers
Khayre was convicted but later acquitted of involvement in a terror plot targeting the Holsworthy army barracks in 2009
Police don’t know whether the attack was planned or spontaneous but say there is nothing to suggest Khayre was working with others
They have cast doubt on claims of responsibility from Islamic State. Khayre stated that he was acting on behalf of both Isis and al-Qaida, groups that are rivals
Khayre arrived in Australia from Somalia as a young child
A search warrant is currently being executed at Khayre’s Roxburgh Park home, where he lived with his mother
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The Victorian premier, Daniel Andrews, is already fielding questions about the state’s parole system. Khayre was out on parole from November last year. But Andrews said Victoria’s parole system is the toughest in Australia. He said Khayre was not in prison for terror offences. Andrews also noted that Khayre’s parole was pushed back due to “terrible behaviour” inside prison.
“The important thing to note is that not only was he eligible and received parole but it would appear on advice to this point that he’d been compliant with the terms and conditions of the parole granted to him,” Andrews said.
“We’ll look at that very closely, of course, and if there are any changes in any element of this act, which we’re considering as an act of terror, then we stand ready to make them.”
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Ashton said there was nothing to suggest that the attack was linked to recent acts of terror in Manchester or London. He said police would investigate whether Khayre’s ideology was “fired up from last week” but said it was too early to reach any definitive conclusion.
Ashton said Khayre came to Australia from Somalia as part of a “refugee situation” when he was a child.
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Khayre was an Australian national, Ashton says, and came to the country as a young child. Following his acquittal for the alleged Holsworthy army barracks terror plot, there was nothing that made him a major concern to intelligence officers.
“It’s more general criminal offending he’s been involved with. So there really wasn’t anything sitting there in recent times that suggested he was about to do this from an intel point of view,” Ashton said.
“But, of course he’s known to us as having that background. That would be seven years ago now.”
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Ashton said the woman was left in the apartment when Khayre burst out and began shooting at officers. Police knew exactly where Khayre was when he began firing at them, Ashton said.
“She was in the apartment and fortunately she is safe today. She was in the apartment at the time and he didn’t harm her in the apartment,” he said.
Something was yelled by Khayre when he burst out of the apartments, Ashton said, but police were still trying to piece their information together.
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Police say it is a “possibility” that Khayre was attempting to lure police to the scene to ambush them. Khayre had used an escort service to bring a woman to the Brighton apartments, before himself arriving with a firearm, Ashton said.
“Now, it’s early days. There’s search warrants being done. We’ve got computers and electronic items seized to go through,” he said.
“If anything emerges, we’ll probably know, but at this stage it’s just too early to know, you know, how random this was in terms of whether it was something that he was planning or thinking about, whether police were the target or he’s seized the opportunity he thought was presented to him last evening.”
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Ashton said police had noted that Islamic State had claimed responsibility. But he again expressed caution about making any conclusions based on that claim alone. He noted that Khayre had claimed he was acting on behalf of both Isis and al-Qaida, groups that are bitter rivals.
“We’re aware of, online, [Isis] having claimed responsibility but then they always tend to jump up and claim responsibility every time something happens,” Ashton said. “So we note that that has happened but he’s also made statements last night around al-Qaida.
“We believe that he has made a call to Channel Seven making those sorts of comments as well.”
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Khayre was behind bars last year for reckless intent to cause injury, Ashton said. He had also committed arson while in the corrections system.
Ashton said counter-terrorism investigators were trying to work out Khayre’s motives. He said a search warrant had been executed at his Roxburgh Park address. Khayre lived there with his mother, Ashton said.
Ashton said police have no information to suggest Khayre was acting with others.
“There is nothing that we’ve found thus far that would suggest to us that this was anything that was planned or done in concert with others,” Ashton said.
“We believe at this stage from the information we have that he was acting alone and there isn’t a sort of ongoing threat in relation to any plot or anything around this individual.”
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Victoria’s police chief, Graham Ashton, speaks to the media
Victoria’s police chief, Graham Ashton, is speaking to the media right now. He said the man killed in the siege was a worker at the serviced apartments. It sounds, tragically, as though he was in the wrong place at the wrong time.
“When he – we now know that when he arrived at the scene, he shot the attendant, who was working about in the foyer of those serviced apartments,” Ashton said. “He was fatally shot by the offender, we allege, at the time he’s arrived at the scene and then has taken up his position inside the apartment.”
Ashton has confirmed that Khayre was on parole at the time of the attack. He had been released from prison in November last year.
“The Department of Corrections, we’re liaising with today, going into the parole background, but the early advice from the Department of Corrections is that he was compliant with parole and hadn’t presented any issues [in relation] to misconduct whilst on parole leading up to yesterday,” Ashton said.
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Stay with us as we monitor developments in the wake of the terrorism-linked siege in Melbourne overnight. The attack left two men dead, including the gunman, and injured three police officers.
Police have named Yacqub Khayre, a man previously charged with a terror plot targeting the Holsworthy army barracks, as the gunman. Police and the Victorian premier, Daniel Andrews, are due to give further details this morning.
Here’s the full report before the media briefing:
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