Three dead in stabbing horror

TWO innocent people are among three killed in a night of random attacks that unfolded in one of Melbourne’s most exclusive streets and left another female victim fighting for life.

Mohamed Ibrahim, 34 from Roxburgh Park knifed a man to death as he was walking in Kew, while two women arriving at their Hawthorn home on an exclusive street were stabbed, one fatally, before the attacker was shot dead by police.

Witnesses described hearing “aggressive” shouting before three gunshots rang out on the suburban street.

Ibrahim was killed after he tried to attack Critical Incident Response Team officers with one of his knives. Police said none of the victims were known to Ibrahim.

The attack, just after midnight yesterday, unfolded “without warning, without any indication there was anything untoward”, Assistant Commissioner Glenn Weir said.

“We are dealing with a really significant event that is very traumatic, this is a terrible event,” AC Weir said. “There is nothing to suggest that any of the people involved are known to each other.”

The violence has prompted a homicide investigation but police have assured the public no offenders are on the run.

Counter-terrorism police are not treating the incident as a terror attack. AC Weir said there was nothing to indicate that he had terror links.

Ibrahim had two large kitchen knives on him and a smaller switch blade pocket knife.

Chief Commissioner Graham Ashton said Ibrahim had a mental health flag against his name in the police system, but didn’t have a criminal record.

“He doesn’t have any criminal history, no warrants out for his arrest, he is not on bail, no parole history accordingly,” he said.

HE DOESN’T HAVE

ANY CRIMINAL HISTORY, NO WARRANTS OUT FOR HIS ARREST, HE IS NOT ON

BAIL, NO PAROLE HISTORY COMMISSIONER GRAHAM ASHTON

“We have got an active intervention order … taken out by his estranged partner and her child (which has been) active for a few years and remained active as of last night.

“A welfare check revealed they are safe, which we are obviously grateful for. There is no indication at this stage he attempted to contact the partner or child last night.”

Police also revealed that Ibrahim attended a police station twice in 2018 and claimed he feared ISIS operatives in Mildura were “out to get him”.

Police raided Ibrahim’s properties in a bid to search for clues about his motivation on his phone and computer.