Ajit Karn
The Sydney Morning Herald reported on Tuesday that 32-year-old Indian national Mohamed Rahmathullah Syed Ahmed was shot and killed by Australian police after allegedly stabbing a cleaner and threatening police officers with a knife.
The Indian Consulate General in Australia determined that the assailant was from the Indian state of Tamil Nadu and was residing in Auburn on a temporary visa.
Detectives are investigating the possibility that mental health played a role in the incident. Ahmed, according to detectives, stabbed a housekeeper and then threatened police officers with a knife before being fatally shot by australian police.
Ahmed assaulted the 28-year-old cleaner at the Auburn train station in Sydney’s west at 12:03 a.m. on Tuesday, according to The Sydney Morning Herald, which cited police. Ahmed arrived at the Auburn police station approximately five minutes later.
Indian national shot dead by Australian Police after he stabs cleaner, threatens cops
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The Indian Consulate General in Australia, as quoted by The Sydney Morning Herald, characterised the incident as “extremely disturbing and regrettable.” We have formally notified the NSW Office of the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade and state police authorities.”
Ahmed confronted two officers who attempted to leave the police station to respond to stabbing reports. Ahmed attempted to attack the officers.
The senior officer fired three shots after the attack, two of which struck Syed Ahmed in the chest. A probationary police officer Tasered the suspect.
Even though Syed was treated by paramedics at the scene and rushed to Westmead Hospital, he was pronounced dead shortly after 1:30 am, according to the Sydney Morning Herald.
During a press conference on Tuesday, NSW Police Assistant Commissioner Stuart Smith stated that the officers had only seconds to respond and were forced to shoot the man.
“I support these officers completely. It’s distressing. “This is a major incident at one of our police stations,” he stated.
“There simply is no imminent time. It is instantaneous. He hurls himself through the glass doors at the officers, giving them little time to react.”
Smith stated that the counter-terrorism unit would assist with the investigation.
When asked about the role of the counter-terrorism unit, Smith stated, “It’s a component of our response model. CCTV footage reveals that a person armed with a knife stabs a person and then attempts to attack police, which is obviously extremely concerning. When this occurs, a number of intelligence and investigative responses are triggered, which we deal with,” Smith said, as quoted by The Sydney Morning Herald.
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Syed Ahmed had five prior interactions with law enforcement, all of which were non-criminal and related to COVID. Smith stated that mental health would be an important area of investigation.
