Friday April 25, 2025
MELBOURNE, Australia (HOL) — The fatal police shooting of Abdifatah Ahmed, a 35-year-old Somali refugee, has drawn nationwide attention, as protesters, community leaders, and human rights advocates demand a fully independent investigation and a broader overhaul of how police handle mental health crises.
Ahmed, who was homeless and known to have struggled with mental illness, was shot dead by two Victoria Police officers around 9 p.m. on April 17 in the Footscray suburb of Melbourne. Police say Ahmed was armed with a knife and charged at officers after refusing commands to drop the weapon.
A Victoria Police spokesperson described the shooting as “extremely volatile and high-risk,” emphasizing that the decision to fire was made “in a small matter of moments.” The department has rejected suggestions that the incident was racially motivated.
The two officers involved—a sergeant and a constable—were not equipped with Tasers, according to police. While Victoria Police launched a program in 2021 to roll out Tasers to all frontline officers, only 60 percent are currently equipped. Full deployment is not expected until September 2026.
The Homicide Squad is now investigating the homicide with oversight from the Professional Standards Command. The coroner will also review the case.
On April 22, roughly 200 protesters gathered on Nicholson Street in Footscray, holding signs reading “Black Lives Matter,” “Justice for Abdifatah,” and “Mental Health Needs Care, Not Bullets.” Tensions flared briefly when a group of about 30 demonstrators clashed with police, throwing bottles. No injuries were reported.
Farah Warsame, president of Somali Community Inc., said the shooting had left the community shaken. “We are still wondering why the police didn’t use any other means—like capsicum spray or a Taser—to de-escalate the situation. It is human life at the end of the day.”
Dr. Berhan Ahmed, CEO of Africause, also addressed the crowd. “Abdifatah was a gentleman,” he said. “These kids are victims of the institutional system. We don’t need to blame victims—we need to support them.”
Somali community advocate Ibrahim Abdulahi Ali questioned whether police followed proper de-escalation protocols and called for the immediate public release of any body-worn camera footage.
“This is about a pattern,” Ali said in a social media statement. “A system. A long history of Black lives being ended by state violence—and the same recycled statements following each one.”
Victoria Police Commander Timothy Tully confirmed the officers have been placed on leave but will not be stood down. “This was an incident that could have impacted the safety of a large number of people who were in the area,” he said.
The City of Maribyrnong released a statement supporting calls for an independent review. “We remain committed to a partnership-based approach with our community leaders, seeking long-term solutions to the social and mental health challenges impacting Footscray,” it said.
Australia’s broader mental health response system is also under scrutiny. A parliamentary inquiry in New South Wales has recommended alternative emergency response models, citing several recent police shootings involving people experiencing mental distress.
For now, the Somali-Australian community continues to seek clarity, justice, and lasting change.
