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9 News
22-04-2025
- 9 News
Angry crowds call for justice after Melbourne man fatally shot by police
Your web browser is no longer supported. To improve your experience update it here Hundreds of angry community members have marched through a Melbourne mall where a man was fatally shot by police last week. Abdifatah Ahmed was shot by two officers on Albert Street in Footscray about 9pm on April 17. Victoria Police said the 35-year-old had charged at the officers with a knife and said their response to discharge their firearms was "appropriate". Hundreds of angry community members have marched through a Melbourne mall where a man was fatally shot by police last week. (Nine) Hundreds of outraged locals, including members of the Somali community and broader African Australian community congregated at Footscray Mall, calling for justice for the young man. (Nine) Hundreds of outraged locals, including members of the Somali community and broader African Australian community congregated at Footscray Mall todaym calling for justice for Ahmed. Handmade banners and signs with messages such as "mental health needs care, not bullets" led a sea of protesters who chanted "we want justice" as they marched through Footscray's main streets. Protesters at one stage clashed with police at the protest, and a small scuffled ensued, according to witnesses. Community leaders have called for more culturally appropriate mental health support in Footscray, stressing Ahmed needed "treatment and care, not a gunshot". "What we are facing in Australia is not fair," African Youth Collective chief executive Isaiah Alier Mashinkok said. "Our people are dying every single day and there's no one there, as an Australian person standing up saying why are the young people dying." Abdifatah Ahmed was shot by two officers on Albert Street in Footscray about 9pm on April 17. (Nine) Community leaders called for an independent investigation into Ahmed's death, along with the release of body-worn camera footage from the two officers who fired the fatal shots. Somali Community Inc president Farah Warsame said the police response "raised serious concerns". "Abdifatah was a son, a brother and a younger man in a clear distress. He needed care, kindness and support, not to be met with deadly force," Warsame said. "This tragedy also highlights bigger issues, like for example, over-policing, racial profiling and poor mental health responses when it comes to African-Australian communities. "These are not new concerns. We have raised them before and we raise them again because of people's lives." Somali Community Inc president Farah Warsame said the police response "raised serious concerns". (Nine) Warsame called on the Victorian government to ensure a fully transparent investigation and provide regular training in de-escalation during mental health responses. "We welcome the announcement of an investigation but we must be clear - this must be an independent investigation," Warsame said. "Transparency is key, we want to know if ... options like Tasers were available or used." In a statement, Victoria Police said an investigation by the Homicide Squad with oversight from Professional Standards Command was ongoing. "This will also ultimately be a matter independently reviewed for the Coroner," a Victoria Police spokesperson said. The force "strongly" rejected claims the shooting was racially motivated. "These decisions are made in line with rigorous training police receive around dealing with armed offenders, with the safety of the community and our officers the number one priority," the spokesperson said. There was a heavy polilce presence at the protest. (Nine) "This was an incident that could have impacted the safety of a large number of people who were in the area on the night." Police confirmed the officers did not have Tasers on them at the time of shooting. "In relation to Tasers – these have now been rolled out to 60 per cent of frontline police, with the rollout on track to be completed by September 2026. "The rollout is moving as fast as it possibly can, while ensuring every member who receives a Taser undergoes comprehensive physical and theoretical training and police stations are fitted out to safely store the devices." The two officers involved in the shooting are on leave, which is standard protocol, according to police. Melbourne Australia Victoria national Protests CONTACT US
Herald Sun
21-04-2025
- Politics
- Herald Sun
Protesters to gather at street where Abdifatah Ahmed was fatally shot by police
Don't miss out on the headlines from News. Followed categories will be added to My News. Melbourne's outraged Somali community is demanding answers from the Premier and the state's top cop over why police shot dead a 'warm and friendly' man who brandished a knife at a busy shopping strip. Hundreds of protesters are on Tuesday expected to descend on the street where two officers gunned down 35-year-old Abdifatah Ahmed on Thursday night after he allegedly ignored orders to drop his weapon. His death has sparked outrage in Melbourne's Somali community, with advocates calling for Premier Jacinta Allan and Victoria Police Acting Chief Commissioner Rick Nugent to oversee an independent investigation into the shooting. They are also calling for a statewide taser rollout for Victoria Police to be fast tracked and for the officers who fired the fatal shots to be charged and stood down during the probe. Police say Mr Ahmed lunged at the officers near the Metro West mall on Albert St in Footscray about 9pm, forcing them to open fire. Mr Ahmed, who had no fixed address and suffered from poor mental health, died at the scene. Protesters were set to gather at Nicholson St in Footscray on Tuesday afternoon. President of Somali Community Inc Farah Warsame said the move by police to draw their weapons raised major concerns about why they did not deploy pepper spray or have tasers. 'Abdifatah was a son, a brother, and a young man in visible distress. He needed care, compassion, and support, not fatal force,' he said. 'This tragedy highlights broader systemic concerns, including over-policing, racial profiling, and inadequate mental health responses when it comes to African Australian communities. 'These are not new issues. We have raised them before, and we raise them again because lives are at stake.' Some community sources told the Herald Sun they held concerns tensions in the crown could erupt because of the level of outrage fuelled by the fatal shooting. A Victoria Police spokeswoman said officers would patrol the planned demonstration on Tuesday. 'Victoria Police respects the right for peaceful protest however any unlawful behaviour will not be tolerated,' she said. Mr Ahmed, who was a refugee from Somalia, was well known in the Footscray area and has been described as a man who was usually 'warm and fun-loving' with a quick sense of humour. 'He lived with mental health challenges, but he was always calm and peaceful,' Africause chief executive Berhan Ahmed told the Herald Sun on Sunday. It is understood that the officers involved have not been stood down, with Commander Tim Tully backing their actions, despite witnesses labelling the fatal approach as 'senseless'. It was revealed in the wake of Mr Ahmed's death that the officers who shot him were not equipped with tasers. Just over half of frontline officers have been equipped with the technology under a $214m revamp set to be complete by September next year. Victoria Police's Professional Standards command is overseeing the homicide probe into Mr Ahmed's death, which is standard practice when police are involved in a shooting.
