A protest descended into chaos as hundreds of community members took over a street where a man was gunned down and killed by police.
Somali refugee Abdifatah Ahmed, 35, was shot dead by officers in Footscray in inner-Melbourne last Thursday night after he lunged at them with a knife.
The incident had sparked outrage in the Somali community, prompting protestors to gather near the scene on Tuesday to call for justice, an independent probe into the incident and improved mental health support.
The protest started off peacefully before a glass bottle was thrown, forcing police to use ‘defence tactics’ in an attempt to prevent hostilities from escalating further.
Footage captured the moment the protest turned violent when a man took a swing at an officer.
The man, who appeared to have been wearing an ankle bracelet, was dragged backwards as another officer turned towards the advancing mob with his baton raised.
Protest organisers condemned the incident and claimed the man didn’t represent the broader interests of the crowd.
Peaceful protestors sat on the ground as aggressive crowd members were moved on.
Abdifatah Ahmed (pictured) was shot and killed by police in Footscray on Thursday evening after he lunged at officers with a knife
An otherwise peaceful Footscray protest turned violent after a man took a swing at police officers on Tuesday afternoon
Despite the ugly scenes, a Victoria Police spokesperson told Daily Mail Australia that no arrests were made with no reports of any injuries.
Police will review footage of Tuesday’s protest to determine whether any charges can be laid.
Mr Ahmed had no fixed address and suffered from poor mental health when his life was cut short.
Protestors carried handwritten signs stating: ‘Mental illness is not a crime. Justice for Abdifatah, we are his voice’.
‘Justice for Abdifatah, murdered by police’, a banner read.
Another sign said: ‘Australian government brings refugees but forget(s) to protect them’.
‘We came together to raise our voice,’ Somali Community Inc president Farah Warsame said.
He never met Mr Ahmed but said attempts had been made to support him.
‘He was a very shy guy, I was told,’ Mr Warsame said.
‘I tried to … find him and see what sort of help we could do for him but unfortunately we didn’t see him.’
Protest organisers disavowed the violence of the lone attacker, claiming he did not represent the interests of the broader community
Advocates also demanded police officers be given tasers sooner than the expected three-year deadline announced by police minister Anthony Carbine in 2023.
Police were called to Albert Street about 9pm last Thursday following reports of a man armed with a knife.
After instructing the man to drop the knife, Mr Ahmed charged towards the officers, forcing them to open fire.
Victoria Police has launched an homicide investigation with oversight from the professional standards command.
On Tuesday, police confirmed the officers involved were not carrying Tasers.
‘Unfortunately, police were confronted with an extremely volatile and high-risk situation and made a tactical decision to use their firearms in a small matter of moments,’ a spokesperson said.
‘We strongly reject any claims that this matter was racially motivated.
Police are pictured rushing from the advancing protesters where one officer appeared to knock into a man wearing a red jumper
‘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.
‘This was an incident that could have impacted the safety of a large number of people who were in the area on the night.’
A rollout of Tasers to all Victorian frontline police is on track to be completed by September 2026 and is currently 60 per cent complete.
The rollout was moving as ‘fast as it possibly can’, the police spokesperson said, noting that even with Tasers, officers had to assess which options to use.
The two officers involved remain on leave, as per standard protocol.
If you or anyone you know needs support, contact Lifeline 13 11 14 or Beyond Blue 1300 22 4636.
