This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.

You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-australia-40168085

The article has changed 5 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.

Version 1 Version 2
Melbourne siege a 'terrorist incident' Melbourne siege a 'terrorist incident'
(about 1 hour later)
Australian police are treating as a "terrorist incident" a Melbourne siege in which a gunman was killed.Australian police are treating as a "terrorist incident" a Melbourne siege in which a gunman was killed.
Officers went to an address in a suburb of the city on Monday after reports of an explosion and found one man already dead in a stairwell. Heavily armed officers arrived at an apartment building on Monday after reports of an explosion and found one man already dead in the foyer.
Another man, now identified as Yacqub Khayre, was holding a woman inside the building against her will. Another man, Yacqub Khayre, was holding a woman inside the building against her will.
Khayre called a local broadcaster during the siege to say he was acting in the name of the Islamic State group. Khayre, 29, called a broadcaster during the siege to say he was acting in the name of the Islamic State (IS) group.
A news outlet for the group said it had carried out the attack. A news outlet for the group claimed it had carried out the attack, but police said there was no evidence of it co-ordinating with Khayre.
Three police officers suffered injuries after Khayre engaged them in a firefight in which he was shot dead. The hostage was rescued unharmed.Three police officers suffered injuries after Khayre engaged them in a firefight in which he was shot dead. The hostage was rescued unharmed.
Victoria Police Chief Commissioner Graham Ashton said the victim who died, a building employee, was "in the wrong place at the wrong time".
Gunman known to policeGunman known to police
Victoria Police Chief Commissioner Graham Ashton said Khayre had been acquitted over a foiled plot to attack a Sydney army barracks in 2009. Authorities were investigating whether Khayre, an Australian citizen, may have lured officers to the wealthy suburb of Brighton with the aim of confronting them.
Khayre had "a long criminal history" and was on parole after being released from jail on a separate offence last year, Mr Ashton said. Mr Ashton said comments Khayre made referencing IS and al-Qaeda had prompted the terrorism investigation.
The commissioner said there was no evidence that the gunman was acting on orders from overseas. "We do not yet know if this was something he was really planning or whether it was just an ad hoc decision that he has made just to go off tap like this," Mr Ashton said.
"They always tend to jump up and claim responsibility every time something happens," Mr Ashton said. "They (IS) always tend to jump up and claim responsibility every time something happens," Mr Ashton said.
"We do not yet know if this was something he was really planning or whether it was just an ad hoc decision that he has made just to go off tap like this." He said Khayre had been acquitted over a foiled plot to attack a Sydney army barracks in 2009.
He had "a long criminal history" and was on parole after being released from jail on a separate offence last year, Mr Ashton said.
The gunman had arranged to meet the woman through an escort service before taking her hostage, he said.
Anger over parole
Prime Minster Malcolm Turnbull said the case raised "grave concerns" about the parole system which he said would be addressed.Prime Minster Malcolm Turnbull said the case raised "grave concerns" about the parole system which he said would be addressed.
"How was this man on parole? He had a long record of violence. A very long record of violence," Mr Turnbull said."How was this man on parole? He had a long record of violence. A very long record of violence," Mr Turnbull said.
"These are important issues and Australians need to be assured that people who are a threat to their safety are not being released on parole," he said."These are important issues and Australians need to be assured that people who are a threat to their safety are not being released on parole," he said.
Mr Turnbull said Australia's official terror threat level would remain at "probable".