Victorian Premier Daniel Andrews says Friday’s arson attack during which a man set himself on fire and injured 27 people in a Melbourne bank was not an act of terror and shouldn’t be used as a “political weapon”.
Mr Andrews on Sunday called the incident an isolated event and said there was no suggestion the suspect was motivated by terrorist ideologies.
He condemned people using the “tragedy” as political fuel.
“It’s not a commentary and it ought not be used as a political weapon by anybody who finds fault with any of the policy settings that we have at the moment,” Mr Andrews told reporters.
The Premier’s comments came ahead of a rally in Melbourne by far-right groups to celebrate the rise of Donald Trump and “right wing governments … all over Europe”.
Friday’s incident in the south-eastern suburb of Springvale occurred when a man carrying an accelerant walked into the local Commonwealth Bank branch around lunchtime and set himself on fire.
Two of the bank’s other occupants at the time were taken to hospital in a critical condition.
The 21-year-old suspect, known to his friends as Nur Islam, was still under guard at the Alfred Hospital on Sunday, badly burnt and unable to talk to police.
It is believed he came by boat via Indonesia and also spent time at Christmas Island and a detention camp in Weipa, north Queensland.
It’s been reported money troubles and a welfare payment issue influenced him to set the bank alight, while acquaintances of the man said he was battling mental health issues in the lead-up to the incident.
“As far as motivations, what drove this person to act the way that he did his status, vis-a-vis the mental health system, I’m very limited in what I can say there,” Mr Andrews told the ABC.
“We just have to wait and let the investigation process unfold and the most important thing we can do is send our best wishes to families.”
Mr Andrews said Victoria has always had a reputation as being a “big-hearted state” and welcoming to migrants, especially in the multicultural community of Springvale.
“It [Springvale] represents all that is good about being a big-hearted nation,” he said.
“I would urge everybody to look at this as an isolated act because that’s exactly what this is.
“My thoughts are with everyone involved in this terrible crime.
“We send love and best wishes to families, the victims of this terrible act.”
Meanwhile, about 40 people turned up at Victoria’s Parliament House to celebrate the US election result, despite more than 1000 saying they would attend on a far-right Facebook page.
Holding banners saying “Trump Congratulations” and waving Australian flags, the group remained relatively silent, chanting “You can’t stop the Trump” occasionally and filming the heavy police presence surrounding them.
Socialist protestors carried banners and signs that read, ‘Stop Trump: make racists afraid again’.
– with AAP, ABC
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