This article is from the source 'guardian' 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.theguardian.com/world/2013/dec/05/mosque-stabbing-one-dead-and-two-wounded-in-melbourne-knife-attack

The article has changed 2 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.

Version 0 Version 1
Mosque stabbing: one dead and two wounded in Melbourne knife attack Mosque stabbing: one dead and two wounded in Melbourne knife attack
(about 3 hours later)
One man was killed and two others were wounded in a knife attack at a mosque in the Melbourne suburb of Broadmeadows on Thursday morning.One man was killed and two others were wounded in a knife attack at a mosque in the Melbourne suburb of Broadmeadows on Thursday morning.
Guardian Australia was told that onlookers saw a man enter the mosque, where he stabbed the three men. Victoria police said one of the victims had died and the other two had been taken to hospital, one in a critical condition.Guardian Australia was told that onlookers saw a man enter the mosque, where he stabbed the three men. Victoria police said one of the victims had died and the other two had been taken to hospital, one in a critical condition.
“Three men were stabbed during the incident and one of those men has since died,” a police statement said. “The critical incident response team attended and arrested the fourth man.”“Three men were stabbed during the incident and one of those men has since died,” a police statement said. “The critical incident response team attended and arrested the fourth man.”
The area has one of Victoria’s largest Muslim populations, with the Broadmeadows mosque on King street one of the longest-established mosques in Melbourne. The violent attack was sparked when a 22-year-old Broadmeadows man produced a knife after he was refused entry to the mosque.
Community tensions have recently flared over a proposal to build another mosque nearby in Coolaroo. Police used capsicum spray and a taser to subdue the man at the Broadmeadows Turkish Islamic and Cultural Centre in Dallas just before 11am on Thursday.
In August, about 1,000 locals gathered outside Hume city council’s offices to object to plans to build the mosque, which would be next to a church. Protesters said the mosque should be built in a less “sensitive” area. Detective Senior Sergeant Stuart Bailey said three elderly people in the mosque tried to prevent the agitated man entering.
Yesim Aksu, whose father attends the Broadmeadows mosque, told Guardian Australia that her mother was near the building at the time of the stabbing. "He has attempted to gain entry to the mosque but was refused due to his agitated state," Bailey said.
"The male has produced a knife and stabbed all three of the 70-year-old men."
"It's a horrific attack on three elderly gentlemen that were just trying to go about their normal business at the mosque," Bailey said.
A sergeant was also assaulted when trying to control the man, who was eventually arrested by six officers, he said. Police initially used capsicum spray on the attacker in the car park connected to the centre, which did not stop him. They then used a taser stun-gun on him on the street.
The man who died was from Glenroy, those taken to hospital were from Mickleham and Craigieburn.
The attacker was taken to hospital for treatment, where he remains under police guard.
Bailey said there were about 40 people inside the mosque at the time, many of whom were female and elderly. He said the man was known to the mosque and had been there on Wednesday.
The area has one of Victoria’s largest Muslim populations, and the mosque on King Street is one of the longest-established in Melbourne.
Yesim Aksu, whose father attends the Broadmeadows mosque, told Guardian Australia her mother was near the building at the time of the stabbing.
“My mother said someone had got into the mosque and attacked three other men,” she said. “She said she had never seen so many police in the one place before. They’ve blocked off the streets and access to the mosque.“My mother said someone had got into the mosque and attacked three other men,” she said. “She said she had never seen so many police in the one place before. They’ve blocked off the streets and access to the mosque.
“This is a very tightly knit community, so it’s a shock for this to happen. I don’t think there’s any deep-seated tension in the community. Some people have got annoyed and abusive in the past, but I’ve never seen violence in the area.”“This is a very tightly knit community, so it’s a shock for this to happen. I don’t think there’s any deep-seated tension in the community. Some people have got annoyed and abusive in the past, but I’ve never seen violence in the area.”
Community tensions have recently flared over a proposal to build another mosque nearby in Coolaroo.
In August, about 1,000 locals gathered outside Hume city council’s offices to object to plans to build the mosque, which would be next to a church. Protesters said the mosque should be built in a less “sensitive” area.
Our editors' picks for the day's top news and commentary delivered to your inbox each morning.Our editors' picks for the day's top news and commentary delivered to your inbox each morning.