Woman killed, another injured as man goes on knife rampage in Sydney
Melbourne: A knife-wielding man shouting "Allahu Akbar' on Tuesday went on a stabbing rampage in Sydney's busy central business district, allegedly killing one woman and injuring another before he was overpowered by passersby with a chair.
The attacker has been identified as 21-year-old Mert Ney and is said to have a history of mental illness. Police said the incident was currently not classified as a terror act. Australian TV channels showed the attacker running through the King Street with a large kitchen knife yelling Allahu Akbar (God is Great).
The attacker, who was seen jumping on the bonnet and roof of a Mercedes, stabbed a 41-year-old woman passing on the street in the back before he was held down with chairs and a milk crate by onlookers, police said.
Paramedics found the woman with a stab wound taking refuge in a nearby hotel.
Later, police said they found the body of a 21-year-old woman, believed to have been an acquaintance of the detained suspect, inside an apartment near the crime site.
Officers confirmed that the death was linked to the ongoing investigation. "All the information we have at hand would link these two crimes," New South Wales police commissioner Mick Fuller said.
In a statement, police said that the emergency services responded following reports that a man was walking along York Street armed with a knife.
Fuller said the attacker had no known links to terror organisations, but he did have a thumb drive with details of mass-casualty white-supremacist attacks in the United States and New Zealand.
He said the accused "is by definition a lone actor. Information was found on him that would suggest he had some ideologies related to terrorism... but he has no apparent links to other terrorist organisations." "It is not currently classed as a terrorist incident... As investigation continues we will reassess that," Fuller said.
Officers from Sydney City Police Area Command and various specialist police were conducting patrols in the area, but it is believed there is no further threat to public safety, the police said.
Prime Minister Scott Morrison praised the bravery of the onlookers.
"The attacker is now in police custody following the brave actions of those who were present at the scene and were able to able to restrain him," he said in a tweet.
"Our thoughts are with all those who have been impacted by this violent attack," he said.
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Verifying Aadhaar cards of Bangladeshis, action underway: Home Minister Parameshwara
Bengaluru (PTI): Karnataka Home Minister G Parameshwara on Tuesday said the state government has begun verification of reports about Bangladeshi nationals obtaining Aadhaar and other identity documents and assured that action would be taken wherever violations are found.
Speaking to reporters here, Parameshwara said he has already instructed senior police officials to compile detailed data on the presence of Bangladeshi nationals in Karnataka.
The focus, he said, is on identifying those who have entered the country illegally and secured local identity documents to stay in the state.
"We are verifying it. Already, I have told the Director General of Police and the police commissioners to extract statistics about Bangladeshis staying in Karnataka," Parameshwara said, adding, "They have come here and got different kinds of ID cards. They have got Aadhaar cards and other IDs and are behaving as if they are not even Bangladeshis."
His response came following the arrest of two Bangladeshi nationals in the state, who allegedly possessed Aadhaar cards as well.
The Home Minister said the state government has already deported some Bangladeshi nationals and will continue to do so wherever such cases are established.
"We will verify and take action accordingly. We have deported a few," he said.
Referring to how illegal immigrants may be entering the country, Parameshwara said border management is the responsibility of the Centre.
"It is said that they sneak into India by paying bribes. It's the Centre to look after borders through the Border Security Force (BSF) or the military.
There are porous borders. We don't know how they enter, whether by paying a bribe or stealthily," he said.
He said many illegal immigrants choose Bengaluru as it is considered a peaceful city. "They settle in Bengaluru, considering it peaceful," he noted.
Parameshwara said the police had identified Bangladeshi nationals working in coffee estates in Sakaleshpur and deported them.
"We got to know that some are staying in Sakaleshpur coffee estates. We identified them and deported them. They get menial jobs," he said.
The Home Minister said information has also been received about the presence of Bangladeshi nationals in Anekal and neighbouring regions.
"We got the information that they are at Anekal on the Bengaluru outskirts and neighbouring regions, which we are verifying. Wherever there are Bangladeshis, we will identify them and send them back," he said.
On reports of certain groups or individuals voluntarily checking antecedents to trace Bangladeshi nationals, Parameshwara issued a clear warning.
"There is no scope for taking the law into their hands," he said, adding that citizens can only pass information to the police.
"They can provide information to police about the presence of Bangladeshis, but other than that, they cannot take action on their own. Can they deport them?" he asked.
He cautioned that any attempt to manhandle people would invite strict action.
"If they misbehave and manhandle people, then we will take action against them. We have not given them authority -- be it BJP or anyone else, there is no right to manhandle them," he said.
Parameshwara said the government would make public the figures related to deportations. "We will release data on the number of people deported," he added.
