Sydney : On Tuesday, Australian police shot and killed a 32-year-old man from Tamil Nadu, identified as Mohamed Rahmathullah Syed Ahmed, after he allegedly stabbed a cleaner at a railway station in Sydney and threatened police officers with a knife. Ahmed was living in Auburn, Australia on a bridging visa, according to the Indian Consulate General in Australia.
The incident occurred at Auburn train station in Sydney’s west at around 12:03 am on Tuesday. Ahmed attacked a 28-year-old cleaner before arriving at Auburn police station five minutes later. When two officers tried to leave the police station to respond to reports of the stabbing, they were confronted by Ahmed, who tried to attack them with a knife.
The senior officer fired three shots, two of which hit Ahmed in the chest. A probationary constable used her Taser on the man. Ahmed was treated at the scene by paramedics and was rushed to Westmead Hospital but was pronounced dead just after 1:30 am.
Detectives are investigating whether mental health played a role in the incident. According to the police, Ahmed stabbed a cleaner and then threatened police officers with a knife before being fatally shot by the police. NSW Police Assistant Commissioner Stuart Smith said the officers had just seconds to respond and were left with no choice but to shoot the man.
The Indian Consulate General in Australia said in a statement, “The incident is extremely disturbing and unfortunate. We have formally taken up the matter with the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade, NSW Office as well as state police authorities.”
Syed Ahmed had five previous interactions with police, all of which were non-criminal and COVID-related. Mental health would be a significant line of inquiry, according to the police.
The counter-terrorism unit will be brought in to help in the investigation, according to Assistant Commissioner Stuart Smith. “Obviously, when someone armed themselves with a knife and stabs an individual and then tries to attack police, which is the CCTV footage, [it] is highly concerning. When that’s involved, it triggers a number of intelligence responses and investigative responses which we’re dealing with,” he said.
(With Agency Inputs)