For subscription enquiries call 1800 077 514 or email [email protected] Victoria Police issued a statement flagging a “strong show of force” in Footscray They promised that officers would “saturate” the area in Melbourne’s west a Somalia-born refugee experiencing homelessness was shot dead by Victoria Police officers in the suburb after an emergency call about a man armed with a knife The man shot and killed by the police officers was Abdifatah Ahmed a 35-year-old refugee with no fixed address He was experiencing mental-health issues at the time of his death The “show of force” operation in Footscray is understood not to be linked to the shooting but an increased police presence in the area has led to a criminal justice response to those experiencing mental ill health and other issues director of engagement and projects at Inner Melbourne Community Legal “We default to thinking the only way to deal with this is sending in the police,” Williams tells The Saturday Paper “The communities we’re working with are really marginalised and experiencing a lot of psychosocial distress and that leads to challenges in public places rather than support and then the police are turning up to respond.” The fatal shooting has brought to a head concerns in the local community about a lack of adequate assistance and support systems for those experiencing disadvantage and mental-health issues it has led many advocates and community lawyers to question the reliance on police and prisons in dealing with those in mental-health crises rather than offering health-based approaches the shooting makes her ask why this last resort was the only option on offer “Without having a detailed understanding of this particular person’s personal challenges it just seems a really sad state of affairs that this is what our response is,” Hardham tells The Saturday Paper “It sheds light on the fact that police appear to be often the ones that are the first and only ones to these incidents and we just don’t have the health and mental-health system to be able to support people that are escalating to this extent.” A Victoria Police spokesperson said the officers in Footscray were facing an “extremely volatile and high-risk situation and made a tactical decision to use their firearms in a matter of moments” The spokesperson told The Saturday Paper: “We understand the community is concerned about this incident – this is something no police officer wants to be involved in when they come to work.” the Victorian government committed more than $200 million to provide tasers to all frontline police officers over five years only 60 per cent of Victoria Police officers have tasers The officers who responded to the call about Ahmed did not have them New South Wales Police Force officers have had access to tasers for more than a decade According to Ilo Diaz from the Centre Against Racial Profiling there is a lack of culturally appropriate services to support people such as Ahmed “The people I’m speaking to are feeling really frustrated they’re saying there’s not enough services and that they’re not helping,” Diaz tells The Saturday Paper “I’m translating that to: the services that are available the number of mental-health crises that Victoria Police is responding to has increased by more than 25 per cent That equates to a call-out every 10 minutes according to the Public Accounts and Estimates Committee Neither Victoria Police nor the state government wants police to be the first responders to mental-health-related triple-0 calls Ambulances were meant to take on this role from late 2023 but this program has been delayed several times and is now slated to begin in 2027 This reform stems from a recommendation made by the Royal Commission into Victoria’s Mental Health System Molly Williams says the delay in implementing this reform is “really distressing” for individuals who have interacted with police while experiencing a mental-health crisis “It’s in no one’s interest that it’s delayed,” she says “It will very often escalate situations that might be able to be resolved in other ways if the police aren’t involved The slow pace of reform has been very challenging for people impacted by these issues.” Hardham urges the Victorian government to prioritise the implementation of this reform “What we are doing at the moment is putting incredible pressure on Victoria Police to be the answer to all problems when it comes to mental health and community safety,” she says “We need to invest in all the ingredients we know can create reform across mental health in the most effective way A failure to do so is costing lives and an extraordinary amount of money for governments.” The Victoria Police spokesperson said the force is supportive of this change and is working with Ambulance Victoria and the state government towards “reduced involvement” in these cases the managing lawyer at Inner Melbourne Community Legal says many of his clients have had previous negative interactions with police and the involvement of law enforcement when they may be having a mental-health episode can unnecessarily escalate the situation “Straightaway the arrival of police brings in that punitive element,” Hudson tells The Saturday Paper “The people who have had previous interactions with them are straightaway upset and heightened by the fact they’re experiencing an acute mental-health episode “It’s using law and order to resolve complex social problems underpinned by a lack of accessible and safe housing lack of access to mental health and other services and people not having their material needs met Diaz says the shift from a police-based response to mental-health issues to a health-based one is sorely needed but must be approached with caution but we need to keep in mind that the kind of response we take on the ground needs to be from the ground up for that community and by that community.” The delay in implementing this reform is indicative of how the state government has dealt with the wider suite of reforms proposed by the royal commission in 2021 According to the Public Accounts and Estimates Committee report of the 74 recommendations agreed to by the state government 57 are still in progress and six have not yet started Six of the short-term recommendations are already at least 18 months behind schedule “What the state government needs to prioritise is rolling out the recommendations of multiple royal commissions and inquiries … A failure to do that comprehensively is costing us “We need to focus on those recommendations and not just adopting them but actually rolling them out and investing in them the Victorian government will spend $4.5 billion on policing nearly double the amount that will be spent on mental-health clinical care and community support services “We have put a lot of resources into our policing system and our jail system at a disproportionate rate and quantity than we have into community and health services particularly those that are place-based and where people who are in deep distress require better and more comprehensive support,” Hardham says The most recent Victorian budget set aside $1.5 billion in the current financial year for the state’s prisons and $216.8 million for its youth prisons it costs $445 a day to hold an adult in prison and $7775 to incarcerate a child – by far the most expensive of all the states and territories “When you look at what that money would translate to if you were to support that young person it’s significantly cheaper to provide that person with 24/7 psychological support over the course of a year,” Hardham says A Victorian government spokesperson said that $6 billion had been invested into mental health since the royal commission “We’re not wasting a minute building a system that works for every Victorian no matter who they are or where they live – one that responds with care compassion and clinical expertise,” the spokesperson said The state government is expected to release a Diverse Communities Mental Health and Wellbeing Framework and has distributed $4.2 million through the Diverse Communities Grants Program While the transition towards paramedics responding to mental-health call-outs continues the state government has launched TelePROMPT with $1.4 million in funding to connect paramedics on the scene with mental-health expertise Share this subscriber exclusive article with a friend or family member using share credits use share credits to share this article with friend or family Share credits renew each month and allow a non-subscriber to read a full article Subscribe to The Saturday Paper for less than $2.30 a week Phone   1800 077 514 Email    [email protected] Email    [email protected] Both Dynon Road and Footscray Road bike routes may be subject to overnight road closures as work continues on overhead bridges above the roadway and paths between Shepherd Bridge and Pearl River Road will be closed: Note that the intersection of Pearl River Road and Footscray Road is now open to vehicles and watch for vehicles turning in from two directions Riders will be directed to the alternative route when one of these routes is closed Become a Member and help fund our advocacy work Or become our friend and subscribe to receive our fortnightly newsletter The Great Victorian Bike Ride is set to return in 2025 on 24–28 November offering an exciting new format while keeping the spirit of this beloved event alive Bicycle Network Memberships offer benefits to all kinds of riders The Peaks Challenge Ride2School fundraiser is on again for this year's epic event on Sunday 9 March The City of Adelaide will undertake a speed limit review to understand the need for reducing speeds to support business and residents and create a safer city environment Work on the much-anticipated $38.9 million Sydney Harbour Bridge ramp upgrade has begun the bike lane will link the country's most famous bridge to the bike network in Milsons Point we launched our Affiliate Membership program specially designed for cycling groups and clubs Orange in New South Wales is in line for a nice new stretch of bike path one that will expand the off-road network and improve access to schools Work has kicked off on a key Canberra bike route setting the wheels in motion for safer and more pleasant journeys through the city’s northern suburbs In a submission to the federal government’s draft National Urban Policy Bicycle Network and seven other Australian bicycle organisations have called for active transport infrastructure funding to be increased to 10% of federal transport investment Many of our best bike journeys are along coastlines or up and down the creeks and rivers that meet the sea But with rising sea levels some of this vital infrastructure is at threat of inundation erosion and from changes in groundwater chemistry Collingwood are set to return to Victoria Park for the first time since Round 1 on Saturday where they will face Footscray in their Round 6 VFL clash VFL Head Coach Andy Otten has made five changes to the side that triumphed over Essendon by 31 points last week with Brady Grey and Josh Tovey returning to the side along with debutants Ben De Bolfo Ed Allan and Oleg Markov have been recalled to the AFL side while Joel Cochran has been ruled out due to concussion Young ruckman Oscar Steene will look to back up his impressive Round 5 performance six clearances and six score involvements to have him named as one of Otten’s best performers for the match Saturday will also mark the first of four Collingwood VFL and VFLW double-headers of the season with the VFLW side set to take on the Western Bulldogs at 10:05am in what will be their first home match of 2025 Stream the match live and free via Collingwoodfc.com.au Smithy’s VFL Round 6Collingwood v FootscrayVictoria Park The Collingwood Football Club is pleased to unveil its 2025 Sir Doug Nicholls Round (SDNR) guernsey The Collingwood Football Club is deeply saddened to learn of the death of former player David Norman Record breaker Jack Crisp missed the chance to win the game after the siren for Collingwood as his side fell short by three points to Geelong in a thriller at the MCG Jack Crisp will break the all-time record for consecutive games played this weekend VFLW captain Dom Carbone leads from the front in Collingwood's loss to the Western Bulldogs in Round 3 Defender Charlie Dean was a standout in the Pies' VFL defeat to the Dogs and Murphy Crisp are mic'd up for Jack's 245th consecutive game Inside the team meeting as Craig McRae addresses the team following Collingwood's Round 8 loss to Geelong The Pies suffer their second VFL loss of the season going down to the Bulldogs at Victoria Park The Collingwood Football Club respectfully acknowledges the traditional owners as the land on which the Collingwood Football Club works and plays The Club pays its respects to elders past and present as the knowledge-holders and custodians of this land Residents from Melbourne’s west who’ve been settling in for a bit of Netflix and chill lately which was shot in and around Barkly Street and the Nicholson Street mall hit the America streaming giant on March 29 New Zealand and beyond a window into the Footscray CBD the film written by and starring Damian Hill and directed by Paul Ireland the lives of 12 loosely connected locals intersect in a mix of drama Underwoods pawn shop at 217 Barkley Street is Barkly Street Pawnbrokers & Jewellers and the owner rather than the ageing and occasionally malevolent Les Underwood (John Brumpton) Mr Anastasi said he only realised Pawno had been added to Netflix when his phone started buzzing with messages last weekend “I found out about it by one of my local jewellers watching it on his TV,” he said “Unfortunately our ugly green counters are a dead giveaway.” While he’s received plenty more texts and photos of people’s TV screens since Pawno premiered on the platform Mr Anastasi said those ugly green counters were one of the few parts of the shop that remained the same from when it was actually filmed the shop front doesn’t look the same anymore,” he said of the different colour scheme font and shop awning that greets his customers now compared to what is depicted in the film Mr Anastasi said there were plenty of other differences between the daily life of being pawnbroker and what was portrayed in Pawno too “I think they hammed it up a bit,” he said “We’re not chasing people up for debts like that “The movie just lent into the stereotype that pawnbrokers are dodgy.” “Just seeing how it all sort of goes down and how they operated it was cool” said Mr Anastasi of the moving making process which began when members of the production team came into his store for a visit had a look at the layout and we lent them some stock and gave them the keys to roller shutters and the store for a few of the scenes.” While Mr Anastasi’s old shop front was used extensively throughout the film many of the indoor scenes were actually filmed in a vacant shop the producers rented a few doors up and which was fitted out to look like his It wasn’t the only thing belonging to him that they copied Diesel lives,” Mr Anastasi said of his late pet staffy which inspired the use of a similar dog in the film But just like Diesel and the old shopfront another feature of Pawno which is no longer around is its creator and star just three years after his film premiered to rave reviews and he was heralded as Australia’s next star of the screen “It was really sad to hear that he passed,” said Mr Anastasi of Hill’s death “I didn’t have a great deal to do with him He was very easy to talk to and I think he was enjoying the process as much as I was.” Footscray has added five players to its team ahead of a Saturday afternoon clash with Collingwood Nick Coffield will play his first competitive hit-out of the year Josh Dolan and Diesel Moloney have also been recalled Jordan Croft and Josh Kellett will miss through injury while Tristan Maple and Ted Middleton have been omitted The five inclusions mean up to 13 AFL-listed Bulldogs could feature at Victoria Park The first bounce will be at 2:05pm AEST on Saturday 3 May and be live-streamed via the AFL website and AFL Live Official app The VFLW Bulldogs will play at the same venue from 10:05am marking a Dogs’ double-header at Victoria Park Defender Liam Jones will be sidelined for a number of weeks The Bulldogs have enjoyed another clean sweep of the coaches’ votes Keep your radios dialled into Nova all week to hear from your favourite Bulldogs players A deeper dive into the stats from our win over Port Adelaide The Western Bulldogs have made five changes ahead of Saturday's clash at Victoria Park Chris Bell provides an update on Liam Jones and Jordan Croft Lou Stephenson reflects on the day of activity with Fire Rescue Victoria The Magpies and Bulldogs clash in round six Backline coach Daniel Pratt reviews the round 8 victory over Port Adelaide in Ballarat The Western Bulldogs Official App is your one stop shop for all your latest team News Scores and Stats delivered LIVE to your smartphone or tablet train and play on the traditional lands of the Kulin Nation We offer our respect to their Elders past and present and extend that respect to all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples today West Footscray Arts are proud to present a brand new festival set to transform Barkly Street into a vibrant hub of writers and readers from 28-30 March 2025.  From poetry in a wine bar and bookshop ramblings to library workshops and performances at a pizza restaurant immersive and entirely original celebration of storytelling in the west Participating authors include: Maxine Beneba Clarke For the full festival program and to book tickets visit: Footscray West Writers Fest The festival is proudly supported by Council's Signature Festivals and Activations Grants Program.  We acknowledge that we are on the traditional lands of the Kulin Nation We offer our respect to the Elders of these traditional lands and through them to all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples past Collingwood have gone down to Footscray by 72 points in their VFL clash at Victoria Park It’s the Pies’ second loss of the VFL season with their first coming by a single point in their Good Friday clash against Brisbane With several AFL-listed players from last week’s match on senior duties their absences paved way for three debutants to don the black and white for the first time It was Murphy who kicked the first for the Pies with the North Albury product getting the crumb and finishing with class The Dogs showed their bite in the opening quarter however only allowing the Pies just the one scoring opportunity while they had nine of their own Footscray were only able to convert on three of them The Pies were able to show more of their spark in the second quarter however with Josh Browne putting two goals to his name Despite Charlie Dean and VFL captain Sam Glover each had five intercept possessions in the backline Liam Hude managed to add to the Collingwood tally as did Iliro Smit after kicking a monster goal after the siren to bring the deficit to 25 points at half time Neither team were able to capitalise in the third That was until Hude finally broke the stalemate with a late swing to his kick giving the Pies another six points to their score Liam Hude threads the needle in Collingwood's Round 6 VFL clash against Footscray following with two goals of their own to finish the third Despite a magnet shift from VFL Head Coach Andy Otten which saw Glover swung forward MATCH CENTRE: COLLINGWOOD V FOOTSCRAY Defenders Charlie Dean (23 disposals, eight marks) and VFL captain Sam Glover (20 disposals, eight intercept possessions) did all they could in the backline, while Brady Grey (18 disposals, five clearances) made his presence known in his return from injury. Josh Browne had his moments in the forward line, kicking two goals to go along with his 20 disposals, while Harry DeMattia (11 disposals, six tackles) did what he could to get the Pies going. Ben De Bolfo also made an impression, finishing his first game in the black and white with 20 disposals, 10 marks and eight intercept possessions. Collingwood now turn their attention to their clash with the Northern Bullants next Saturday at Genis Steel Oval. GOALSCollingwood: Josh Browne (2), Liam Hude (2), Iliro Smit, Josh MurphyFootscray: Caleb Poulter (3), Will Lewis (3), Chan Hargraves (2), Harvey Gallagher (2), Lachlan Smith, Diesel Moloney, Luke Kennedy, Arthur Jones, David Cunningham, Cooper Craig-Peters BESTCollingwood: Charlie Dean, Sam Glover, Ben De Bolfo, Brady Grey, Harry DeMattia, Tew Jiath The Collingwood Football Club is pleased to unveil its 2025 Sir Doug Nicholls Round (SDNR) guernsey. The Collingwood Football Club is deeply saddened to learn of the death of former player David Norman. Record breaker Jack Crisp missed the chance to win the game after the siren for Collingwood as his side fell short by three points to Geelong in a thriller at the MCG. Recruiters still talk about it. They were gathered at Duncan Mackinnon Reserve athletics track in Melbourne's south-east just days before the 2021 AFL Draft. VFLW captain Dom Carbone leads from the front in Collingwood's loss to the Western Bulldogs in Round 3. Defender Charlie Dean was a standout in the Pies' VFL defeat to the Dogs. Watch as Sloane, Lilah, and Murphy Crisp are mic'd up for Jack's 245th consecutive game. Inside the team meeting as Craig McRae addresses the team following Collingwood's Round 8 loss to Geelong. The Pies suffer their second VFL loss of the season, going down to the Bulldogs at Victoria Park. The Collingwood Football Club respectfully acknowledges the traditional owners, the Wurundjeri people of the Kulin nation, as the land on which the Collingwood Football Club works and plays. The Club pays its respects to elders past and present as the knowledge-holders and custodians of this land. CNN and the BBC World Service which is copyright and cannot be reproduced AEST = Australian Eastern Standard Time which is 10 hours ahead of GMT (Greenwich Mean Time) Add articles to your saved list and come back to them any time The end of a protest in Footscray over the death of a rough sleeper in a police shooting has been marred by violence after a protester ran towards a uniformed officer and bottles were thrown Hundreds of people had rallied peacefully for hours in a protest in the heart of Footscray on Tuesday afternoon holding signs that read “Black Lives Matter” and “Mental health needs care not bullets” following the death of Abdifatah Ahmed a scuffle broke out with police.Credit: Jason South who had mental health issues and was sleeping rough was shot dead by police on Thursday night after allegedly rushing at officers with a knife Vision of the aftermath of the shooting shows two officers with guns drawn approaching Ahmed a Somali refugee who had lived in Australia for years as he lay critically injured on the ground The protesters marched through Footscray’s CBD only metres from where he was shot The group made its way to the local police station chanting “no justice no peace” while calling for more mental health support and an independent inquiry into Ahmed’s death Outside the police station there were raw and emotional scenes as one woman cried out to a row of officers standing guard: “You killed our son.” Others called for “compassion not bullets” the rally turned violent when a man suddenly came out of Nicholson Street and onto Irving Street where police were directing traffic as the crowd was dispersing The man began shouting at police before running towards an officer who was seen putting his leg up and reaching for his baton as two other officers ran to his aid The isolated incident sparked a heated response from a small group of the protesters who began throwing bottles at the three police Senior leaders in the African community stepped in and calmed the situation within minutes as extra police flooded the area A Victoria Police spokeswoman estimated about 250 people attended the protest and said the vast majority were respectful and peaceful The protest in Footscray.Credit: Jason South police were then confronted with a small volatile crowd of around 30 people with bottles being thrown at police,” the spokeswoman said “Police have used defence tactics to maintain separation and prevent an escalation the area was cleared and people dispersed.” Hundreds of people had rallied peacefully for hours in an emotional protest in the heart of Footscray on Tuesday afternoon.Credit: Jason South Police would review footage of the event to see whether any offences were committed Ahmed’s death has stirred outrage and grief among members of the local community who questioned why police did not try to calm the situation and deploy non-lethal force before drawing their guns African community leader Dr Berhan Ahmed told the crowd Footscray needed more outreach services instead of guns being fired at people in the grips of a mental health crisis “Shame on [police] using guns instead of care.” His words were met with cries of “shame” from the crowd then we are as a society are failing,” he said The crowd chanted “compassion not bullets” as they marched in the Footscray CBD.Credit: Jason South a community leader from the East African Women’s Association called for a full and transparent investigation into Ahmed’s death and said the incident had left her shocked and heartbroken to keep us safe are the ones who shot somebody from our own community,” Farah said This young man needed mental health support Footscray has long been grappling with a surge in crime but long-term residents and business owners say the situation has deteriorated significantly in the past 18 months Ahmed had previously lived interstate and has family living in Australia who are heartbroken by his death He has been remembered as kind and well-known among Footscray locals Police have said two officers were called to Albert Street about 9pm last Thursday following reports Ahmed was brandishing a knife near shops on the corner of Paisley Street The pair told Ahmed to drop the weapon but fired their guns after he lunged at them with the knife Abdifatah Ahmed died in the shooting after police said he lunged at them with a knife.Credit: Jason South It confirmed on Tuesday that the officers had not had Tasers at the time and rejected claims Ahmed’s death was racially motivated “We understand the community is concerned about this incident – this is something no police officer wants to be involved in when they come to work,” the statement said 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 “This was an incident that could [have] impacted the safety of a large number of people who were in the area on the night “The investigation by the homicide squad with oversight from Professional Standards Command is ongoing and this will also ultimately be a matter independently reviewed for the Coroner.” The state government announced in 2021 that it would arm all frontline police with as part of a $214 million four-year program to boost the police’s tactical options and capabilities The police statement said about 60 per cent of frontline police have Tasers with the rollout on track to be completed by September next year “The rollout is moving as fast as it possibly can while ensuring every member who receives a Taser undergoes comprehensive physical and theoretical training and police stations are fitted out to safely store the devices,” police said The two officers involved in Ahmed’s death are on leave in line with standard protocol President of Somali Community Inc Farah Warsame said he would continue to demanded justice for Ahmed “We have to speak for someone who can no longer speak for himself,” he said Start the day with a summary of the day’s most important and interesting stories, analysis and insights. Sign up for our Morning Edition newsletter Hundreds of people had rallied peacefully for hours in a protest in the heart of Footscray on Tuesday afternoon holding signs that read \\u201CBlack Lives Matter\\u201D and \\u201CMental health needs care not bullets\\u201D following the death of Abdifatah Ahmed The protesters marched through Footscray\\u2019s CBD only metres from where he was shot The group made its way to the local police station chanting \\u201Cno justice no peace\\u201D while calling for more mental health support and an independent inquiry into Ahmed\\u2019s death Outside the police station there were raw and emotional scenes as one woman cried out to a row of officers standing guard: \\u201CYou killed our son.\\u201D Others called for \\u201Ccompassion not bullets\\u201D with bottles being thrown at police,\\u201D the spokeswoman said \\u201CPolice have used defence tactics to maintain separation and prevent an escalation the area was cleared and people dispersed.\\u201D Ahmed\\u2019s death has stirred outrage and grief among members of the local community \\u201CWe don\\u2019t need to blame victims we need to support victims,\\u201D he said \\u201CShame on [police] using guns instead of care.\\u201D His words were met with cries of \\u201Cshame\\u201D from the crowd \\u201CIf our weakest person is to be shot then we are as a society are failing,\\u201D he said a community leader from the East African Women\\u2019s Association called for a full and transparent investigation into Ahmed\\u2019s death and said the incident had left her shocked and heartbroken to keep us safe are the ones who shot somebody from our own community,\\u201D Farah said It could be anyone\\u2019s son or daughter.\\u201D and rejected claims Ahmed\\u2019s death was racially motivated \\u201CWe understand the community is concerned about this incident \\u2013 this is something no police officer wants to be involved in when they come to work,\\u201D the statement said \\u201CThis was an incident that could [have] impacted the safety of a large number of people who were in the area on the night \\u201CThe investigation by the homicide squad with oversight from Professional Standards Command is ongoing and this will also ultimately be a matter independently reviewed for the Coroner.\\u201D The state government all frontline police with as part of a $214 million four-year program to boost the police\\u2019s tactical options and capabilities \\u201CThe rollout is moving as fast as it possibly can while ensuring every member who receives a Taser undergoes comprehensive physical and theoretical training and police stations are fitted out to safely store the devices,\\u201D police said The two officers involved in Ahmed\\u2019s death are on leave in line with standard protocol \\u201CWe have to speak for someone who can no longer speak for himself,\\u201D he said Start the day with a summary of the day\\u2019s most important and interesting stories Collingwood's VFL team is set to return to Victoria Park for the first time since Round 1 with eight AFL-listed players to feature in the Round 6 clash against Footscray WATCH COLLINGWOOD V FOOTSCRAY LIVE AND FREE Collingwood and KGM SsangYong steer towards the future with the Korean automotive manufacturer joining the black and white family for the next three years Two police officers who shot dead a knife-wielding rough sleeper in the heart of Footscray on the eve of Good Friday did not have Tasers as part of their kit Police Association secretary Wayne Gatt said the officers had access to capsicum spray but were yet to be fitted with the conducted energy device Community members gathered for a vigil on Friday night at the scene of the police shooting in Footscray,Credit: Simon Schluter The Victorian government announced it would arm all frontline police officers with Tasers in 2021 as part of a $214 million But Gatt said delays in the government committing to fund the program and the challenges of retraining such a large workforce meant some officers were yet to be trained and equipped with the shock device “After more than a decade of campaigning by the Police Association for every police officer to have access to a Taser 58 per cent of the force are now trained and equipped with a Taser while the region in which this incident took place sits at 28 per cent density for officers trained and equipped with a Taser,” he said Victoria Police declined to comment when asked about whether the officers had Tasers The two officers were called to Albert Street about 9pm on Thursday following reports of a man brandishing a knife near a shopping plaza on the corner of Paisley Street In a statement issued to the media on Friday Victoria Police said the pair instructed the man to drop the weapon but discharged their firearms after the 35-year-old lunged at them with the knife who collapsed on a pedestrian crossing on Paisley Street in front of a small crowd of Easter shoppers The incident sparked outrage among some members of the local community who questioned why the police didn’t attempt to de-escalate the situation and deploy non-lethal force before drawing out their guns “It’s important to note the presence of capsicum spray or Taser provides police with tactical options but this does not mean that either will be appropriate or successful in all circumstances,” Gatt said “The Police Association is providing full support to our members involved in this incident in a wellbeing and legal sense and will be there to provide any further support they require both now and into the future.” For business owner and long-term Footscray resident Phil Gaby Thursday night’s shooting was a tragedy that had been long in the making a bakery and cafe just metres away from the main entrance to the plaza that provides food and support to struggling families and rough sleepers have become a near-weekly occurrence at the small shopping centre Business owner and long-term Footscray resident Phil Gaby.Credit: Photograph by Chris Hopkins Gaby himself has been forced to disarm offenders on multiple occasions inside his bakery and the plaza Just two months ago, Maribyrnong Council had to dismantle a playground on Nicholson Street Mall due to concerns it was being used to take drugs with needles sometimes found on the play equipment A mobile police CCTV unit now stands near the old playground site A mobile police CCTV unit at Nicholson Street Mall in Footscray.Credit: Marta Pascual Juanola Traders have been crying out for more support from the police and increased outreach services in the area but Gaby said officers were often too busy to attend it was usually long after the offenders had left the area “How serious is a crime before it gets serious enough Because there’s been enough assaults on innocent people and stuff within the community,” he said Victoria Police launched a special operation to target drug offending public order issues and anti-social behaviour in the Footscray CBD following concerns raised by local traders officers charged five people with drug-related offences They also arrested three other people over several thefts at local shops and two for outstanding warrants Maribyrnong area commander Acting Inspector Chloe Hayward said the operation sent a clear message to offenders and the local community that police would not tolerate criminal activity and anti-social behaviour in the area “Operations like these go a long way to improving safety overall by allowing us to build better relationships with locals and traders in the area,” she said But Gaby believes Thursday’s fatal shooting could have been avoided if police spent more time building connections in the community and getting to know those sleeping rough and suffering from mental health and substance abuse issues outside of targeted operations “They have no interest in trying to understand the dynamics,” he said Berhan Ahmed addresses the crowd at a vigil for the 35-year-old killed in the shooting.Credit: Simon Schluter “[The shooting] will affect the community with a lot less trust because now the police have basically confirmed all their fears that they have no interest in helping people who heads the nearby youth and community services organisation Africause He said most people causing trouble in the Footscray area were a product of their circumstances and in urgent need of appropriate support Let’s address substance abuse,” Ahmed said Ahmed said it was crucial to intervene before young people ended up on the streets by ensuring they were supported to stay in school and find employment “We need to look at services that address the problem and solve the problem not ones that service the problem,” he said Start the day with a summary of the day’s most important and interesting stories, analysis and insights. Sign up for our Morning Edition newsletter Two police officers who in the heart of Footscray on the eve of Good Friday did not have Tasers as part of their kit The Victorian government all frontline police officers with Tasers in 2021 as part of a $214 million \\u201CAfter more than a decade of campaigning by the Police Association for every police officer to have access to a Taser while the region in which this incident took place sits at 28 per cent density for officers trained and equipped with a Taser,\\u201D he said who questioned why the police didn\\u2019t attempt to de-escalate the situation and deploy non-lethal force before drawing out their guns \\u201CIt\\u2019s important to note the presence of capsicum spray or Taser provides police with tactical options but this does not mean that either will be appropriate or successful in all circumstances,\\u201D Gatt said \\u201CThe Police Association is providing full support to our members involved in this incident in a wellbeing and legal sense and will be there to provide any further support they require both now and into the future.\\u201D Thursday night\\u2019s shooting was a tragedy that had been long in the making \\u201CEveryone\\u2019s fed up,\\u201D he said Maribyrnong Council had to due to concerns it was being used to take drugs \\u201CHow serious is a crime before it gets serious enough Because there\\u2019s been enough assaults on innocent people and stuff within the community,\\u201D he said \\u201COperations like these go a long way to improving safety overall by allowing us to build better relationships with locals and traders in the area,\\u201D she said But Gaby believes Thursday\\u2019s fatal shooting could have been avoided if police spent more time building connections in the community and getting to know those sleeping rough and suffering from mental health and substance abuse issues outside of targeted operations \\u201CThey have no interest in trying to understand the dynamics,\\u201D he said \\u201C[The shooting] will affect the community with a lot less trust because now the police have basically confirmed all their fears that they have no interest in helping people \\u201CThey\\u2019re forced to live in this situation Let\\u2019s address substance abuse,\\u201D Ahmed said \\u201CWe need to look at services that address the problem and solve the problem not ones that service the problem,\\u201D he said Footscray has finalised its state-league list for the 2025 Smithy’s VFL Season As announced earlier this year, David Cuningham, Liam Hunt and Bailey Medwell have joined the Kennel alongside Cody Bramble – the brother of AFL Bulldog Lachy – and Fred Vapield Omar Abou-Eid (Calder Cannons) and Luca Muratore (Airport West) have also signed with the Bulldogs this season Muratore worked closely with star AFL forward and Airport West Development and Assistant Coach Aaron Naughton emerging as a leading player with 47 goals from 18 games Here’s what CODE Sports’ Paul Amy had to say about each of the ‘Scray’s new recruits Abou-Eid was a 19-year-old player with the Calder Cannons in 2024 with a growth spurt turning him from a midfielder into a 200cm ruckman with a willingness to take the game on The pacy Bramble is the brother of AFL Western Bulldog Lachy and had a run with Calder Cannons in 2021 and was on Box Hill Hawks’ list in 2023 He’s spent the past three seasons as a prominent player with Sunbury Lions The former Western Bulldogs NGA member is an inside midfielder who last year split time his time between his local club and the Sandringham Dragons as he attended Caulfield Grammar An experienced signing for the ‘Scray in the ex-Blue who was linked with Sydney after his delisting the 27-year-old made 58 appearances for Carlton The onballer won a best and fairest and VFL team-of-the-year honours at Coburg before joining Williamstown in 2019 He left the Towners after the 2022 season and has since been a leading player with North Heidelberg Hunt’s cousin Ethan plays with Footscray and the Hunts are also cousins with Western Bulldogs champion Marcus Bontempelli A more mature recruit for the ‘Scray in Ballarat league top-liner Bailey Medwell 21 contested possessions and 13 clearances in a match last season The Bulldogs were pleased to land midfielder Kardachi after failing to play a game for the Western Jets in 2023 rose to win their best and fairest last year He also had a top-10 finish in the Morrish Medal and was part of Sunshine’s senior premiership side The young midfielder from Lorne was the 21st player signed by the Bulldogs recommended by his coach and former Blue Ed Curnow Middleton was an excellent contributor to Lorne’s premiership team last year Star AFL Western Bulldogs Aaron Naughton recommended Muratore to the Bulldogs Naughton is a development and assistant coach at Essendon District league Airport West where Muratore has emerged as a leading player winning the competition goalkicking last year with 47 goals from 18 games James O’Donnell is a chance to feature in the Club’s 100-year marquee fixture this Friday An eye-catching bridge section of Melbourne’s so-called cycling super-highway has finally opened in the city’s west and one of the first riders to use it described it as like “riding through a disco” vice-president of cyclist advocacy group BikeWest was also struck by the architectural beauty of the Footscray Road crossing during his first ride along it on Tuesday as sunlight shone through the holes of its cocoon-like shell vice-president of cycling advocacy group BikeWest on the new bridge over Footscray Road.Credit: Jason South The bright green elevated crossing in Docklands is part of more than 14 kilometres of new and upgraded bike paths funded through the $10.1 billion West Gate Tunnel project The state government announced on Tuesday that the 220-metre cable-suspended bridge near the old Melbourne Star ferris wheel was now open to pedestrians and bike riders connecting the Capital City and Moonee Ponds Creek cycling trails construction of a 2.5-kilometre “veloway” (an express route for bike riders) between Footscray and Docklands remains ongoing which has been dubbed the rainbow bridge thanks to its multicoloured panelling The tunnel project has disrupted western Melbourne’s transport network for three years longer than planned, while the cost has blown out to almost double the initial $5.5 billion budget In February, The Age reported that cyclists were stuck riding on dangerous truck-laden roads in Melbourne’s inner west as key bridges remained blocked off This is despite the government spruiking the bridges, as if they were complete was among the first to cycle across the Footscray Road bridge with the Banyule Bicycle User Group on Tuesday “It was like riding through a disco,” he said “At the [traffic] lights [before the crossing was built] However, critics of the project, including the BikeWest group, have previously accused the government of “playing politics” by delaying opening infrastructure they say is vital for public safety While Vairo enjoyed his cycle along the Footscray Road crossing he said the section had always been one of the better parts of his ride into the city before the West Gate Tunnel construction He said truck-filled suburban streets further west remained a big safety problem for cyclists but it’s not what we would have done,” Vairo said of the new bridge Ned Watson rides his child across the bridge on Tuesday morning.Credit: Jason South “Our advocacy now is: we’ve got this thing So people from the suburbs – from Yarraville West Footscray and further afield – can get to this bit of infrastructure safely.” Vairo said he was more excited about the Dynon Road crossing opening soon as it created a new corridor over rail lines “That is a brand-new bit of infrastructure that gives people new ways to go to the city safely,” he said Vairo remained critical of the West Gate Tunnel’s impact on cyclist safety in Melbourne west, and blames construction works for creating a dangerous Footscray Road intersection where 22-year-old cyclist Angus Collins died in February 2024 a 41-year-old from Brunswick who was cycling with his child on Tuesday said the new bridge had made his trip to a school holiday show safer “I think normally we’d have to go through all those traffic crossings down there [on Footscray Road].” Transport Minister Gabrielle Williams said the new bridge was “a big step towards transforming the corridor into an elevated cycling super-highway between the city and the west” An eye-catching bridge section of Melbourne\\u2019s so-called cycling super-highway has finally opened in the city\\u2019s west and one of the first riders to use it described it as like \\u201Criding through a disco\\u201D The state government announced on Tuesday that the 220-metre cable-suspended bridge near was now open to pedestrians and bike riders construction of a 2.5-kilometre \\u201Cveloway\\u201D (an express route for bike riders) between Footscray and Docklands remains ongoing The tunnel project has disrupted western Melbourne\\u2019s transport network for three years longer than planned while to almost double the initial $5.5 billion budget that cyclists were stuck riding on dangerous truck-laden roads in Melbourne\\u2019s inner west as key bridges remained blocked off \\u201CIt was like riding through a disco,\\u201D he said \\u201CAt the [traffic] lights [before the crossing was built] so it\\u2019s an improvement on that.\\u201D by delaying opening infrastructure they say is vital for public safety \\u201CIt is a postcard for incredible photos but it\\u2019s not what we would have done,\\u201D Vairo said of the new bridge \\u201COur advocacy now is: we\\u2019ve got this thing So people from the suburbs \\u2013 from Yarraville West Footscray and further afield \\u2013 can get to this bit of infrastructure safely.\\u201D \\u201CThat is a brand-new bit of infrastructure that gives people new ways to go to the city safely,\\u201D he said Vairo remained critical of the West Gate Tunnel\\u2019s impact on cyclist safety in Melbourne west and blames construction works for creating a dangerous Footscray Road intersection where in February 2024 \\u201CIt was pretty awesome,\\u201D he said \\u201CI think normally we\\u2019d have to go through all those traffic crossings down there [on Footscray Road].\\u201D Transport Minister Gabrielle Williams said the new bridge was \\u201Ca big step towards transforming the corridor into an elevated cycling super-highway between the city and the west\\u201D There will be new portable solar powered speed advisory signs in Footscray thanks to funding from the latest round of the Transport Accident Commission’s (TAC) Local Government Grant Program (LGGP) Maribyrnong council is one of 38 local governments who will share more than $2.5 million from the latest round of grants announced on April 16 by Roads and Road Safety Minister The LGGP provides funding to projects that help prevent road trauma particularly among pedestrians and cyclists – the most vulnerable road users 48 pedestrians and 12 cyclists lost their lives on the state’s roads and in 2023-24 556 pedestrians and 401 cyclists were hospitalised as the result of a road accident Due to the amount of trucks and bike riders travelling through the municipality cyclist and pedestrian safety is a particularly big issue in Maribyrnong and it’s hoped the new signs will ensure all road users are more aware of speeds on local roads we aim to create safer road environments and encourage the collaborative efforts to address localised road safety challenges throughout Victoria,” said Ms Horne in announcing the grant recipients For a full list of 2024 grant recipients and details on this year’s program, visit the TAC website: tac.vic.gov.au/about-the-tac/community/grants/local-government-grants. The 2025 TAC Local Government Grant Program will open for applications in mid-June 2025 Details: tac.vic.gov.au/local-government-grants. Footscray residents are questioning why officers didn’t use Tasers or pepper spray before fatally shooting a man who police say charged at them with a knife in Melbourne’s inner west Officers were called to Footscray Plaza about 9pm on Thursday in response to reports of a man wielding a knife A photo from a witness at the scene of Thursday night’s police shooting in Footscray.Credit: Nine News was treated by paramedics but died at the scene in Albert Street where distressed witnesses had been doing last-minute Easter shopping In video from Thursday night seen by The Age police officers are seen trying to restore order at the intersection of Paisley and Albert streets where the man’s body lies The footage also shows police directing a small crowd of people away from the entrance of the shopping plaza Police tape surrounded the shopping plaza early on Friday morning as uniformed police talked to shop owners and residents about 80 people gathered at the scene of the shooting to pay tribute to the dead man “stop police killings” and “remember the one they killed” were laid out before candles “This is a 35-year-old person who should have had his whole life ahead of him,” vigil organiser Gemma Cafarella a barrister and vice president of Liberty Victoria “People of colour are disproportionately targeted by police,” she said Some people who gathered for the vigil cried “shame” and said the show of police force in the area made them feel fearful “What we need is investment in health responses investment in social support,” Cafarella said confirmed the man who was shot was a member of the African community He said many people were becoming desperate in the face of rising living costs and did not have proper mental health support Berhan Ahmed addresses the crowd at the vigil.Credit: Simon Schluter “How many people need to be killed before we do something A Footscray resident who witnessed the shooting questioned why police did not use a Taser or capsicum spray before drawing their guns and there are so many resources and ways to restrain Police officers at the scene in Footscray on Thursday night.Credit: Pradeep Tiwari said he was driving with his girlfriend when the officers pulled out their guns and fired multiple shots at the man just metres in front of his vehicle The witness said it felt like “it went on forever” He said Footscray needed more support services to help those struggling with mental health and substance abuse Victoria Police Commander Tim Tully said the sergeant and constable at the scene instructed the man to drop the knife Tully said the man refused and allegedly ran at the officers He said there were no protocols requiring police to explore other options before drawing their guns The Age is not suggesting the officers breached any police protocols “Police undertake specific training and are provided with a range of tactical options and equipment to keep the community safe the members deemed that the firearm was appropriate,” Tully said Tully did not say how many shots were fired but a witness estimated there were a total of six to eight Tully said an investigation by homicide squad detectives and overseen by Professional Standards Command would also probe whether the man got the knife from a nearby Kmart store there was a group of persons who challenged police in terms of abusing them and throwing bottles,” Tully said “My understanding is that those persons were not connected with the deceased man that is something we’ll certainly look at.” an Easter procession comprising several churches from Footscray stopped at the scene of the shooting to pray and sing A nearby shop owner who did not want to be identified said the area was busy with people doing last-minute Easter shopping at the time of the shooting on Thursday night Officers talking to shopkeepers and residents at the scene on Friday morning were also inquiring about vandalism after glass panels in three bus shelters near the shooting scene had been smashed about 8.30am One of the bus shelters near the scene of the shooting that had their glass panels smashed on Friday.Credit: Marta Pascal Juanola The shop owner said he resorted to installing metal bars in his business about a month ago after at two break-in attempts police visited Footscray with the dog unit to talk to business owners about their crime concerns but Tully said he did not believe it was a “problem suburb” for crime that may have been the focus of the operation [last week] you’ll see that across a number of different suburbs across the state,” he said Police Commander Tim Pully speaks to the media on Friday morning.Credit: Paul Jeffers Tully also said officers would conduct “reassurance patrols” in coming days to help Footscray residents feel more secure Maribyrnong councillor Susan Yengi urged the local community to unite in response to the shooting “This heartbreaking incident is the latest in a string of events that have shaken African communities across our city and too many young lives have been cut short,” she said Emergency services at the scene of a shooting in Footscray on Friday morning.Credit: Paul Jeffers police shot two people in separate incidents in Melbourne’s south-eastern suburbs Both shootings were non-fatal and were being investigated by professional standards On March 29, police shot a man who allegedly charged at them with a metal pole in Doveton In Mulgrave on April 4 an officer shot a woman through the window of the car she was in after she allegedly pointed a gun at the man driving the car following a police pursuit In 2021, the Victorian state government pledged $214 million to equip all frontline police with Tasers It said the move would save lives as officers would have more non-lethal options to keep the community safe Premier Jacinta Allan said it was “a very distressing set of circumstances for this individual’s family” and also “potentially dangerous” for police Anyone who witnessed the incident or with further information is urged to contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000 or submit a confidential report online at www.crimestoppersvic.com.au For the story behind the headlines, listen to The Morning Edition, with a new episode live every weekday from 5am. You can find The Morning Edition on Apple, Spotify and everywhere you listen to your podcasts Footscray residents are questioning why officers didn\\u2019t use Tasers or pepper spray before fatally shooting a man who police say charged at them with a knife in Melbourne\\u2019s inner west police officers are seen trying to restore order at the intersection of Paisley and Albert streets where the man\\u2019s body lies Placards reading \\u201Cservices not bullets\\u201D \\u201Cstop police killings\\u201D and \\u201Cremember the one they killed\\u201D were laid out before candles \\u201CThis is a 35-year-old person who should have had his whole life ahead of him,\\u201D vigil organiser Gemma Cafarella \\u201CPeople of colour are disproportionately targeted by police,\\u201D she said Some people who gathered for the vigil cried \\u201Cshame\\u201D \\u201CWhat we need is investment in health responses investment in social support,\\u201D Cafarella said \\u201CHow many people need to be killed before we do something This situation is getting out of hand.\\u201D The witness said it felt like \\u201Cit went on forever\\u201D but more policing was \\u201Cnot the way to go\\u201D \\u201CPolice undertake specific training and are provided with a range of tactical options and equipment to keep the community safe the members deemed that the firearm was appropriate,\\u201D Tully said \\u201CI\\u2019m aware that post the incident there was a group of persons who challenged police in terms of abusing them and throwing bottles,\\u201D Tully said \\u201CMy understanding is that those persons were not connected with the deceased man that is something we\\u2019ll certainly look at.\\u201D but Tully said he did not believe it was a \\u201Cproblem suburb\\u201D for crime \\u201CIn terms of the drug issues down there you\\u2019ll see that across a number of different suburbs across the state,\\u201D he said Tully also said officers would conduct \\u201Creassurance patrols\\u201D in coming days to help Footscray residents feel more secure \\u201CThis heartbreaking incident is the latest in a string of events that have shaken African communities across our city and too many young lives have been cut short,\\u201D she said \\u201CThis moment demands more than sorrow police shot two people in separate incidents in Melbourne\\u2019s south-eastern suburbs police shot a man who allegedly charged at them with a metal pole in the Victorian state government pledged $214 million to equip Premier Jacinta Allan said it was \\u201Ca very distressing set of circumstances for this individual\\u2019s family\\u201D and also \\u201Cpotentially dangerous\\u201D for police Anyone who witnessed the incident or with further information is urged to contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000 or submit a confidential report online at with a new episode live every weekday from 5am The clash is on track to break the Bulldogs’ home-and-away season attendance record with more than 80,000 expected. The promotion, which includes a commemorative guernsey, leverages the triumphs and struggles of a club once believed close to folding. Read moreIt will be the second time in less than a year the Bulldogs have revived their traditional moniker after celebrations last year during Retro Round to mark the 70th anniversary of the 1954 VFL premiership Chief executive Ameet Bains said he is committed to the Western Bulldogs name but that use of the Footscray title could become an annual marketing exercise “That’s something that we’ll talk about doing,” he said “I think one of the things the club has done well – and real kudos for our brand and marketing team – is the retro throwback even going back to 2019 when we had the 30th anniversary of ‘the Fightback’ the way that that game was brought to life.” The club was in a perilous state in 1989 and faced a merger with Fitzroy until fans rallied to secure its survival in a response that has been celebrated as “the Fightback” and the club reported a $14.9m profit in 2024 and completed upgrades to its headquarters and training base at Whitten Oval The one-off Western Bulldogs guernsey. Photograph: Western BulldogsFormer captain Bob Murphy said it was an achievement for the Bulldogs to reach this milestone. “I keep using the word ‘proud’ deliberately because of the the trials and how difficult it’s been in various parts of the last 30 years, let alone 100 years,” he said. The club adopted the Western Bulldogs title in 1996 to became more attractive to potential fans in the growing western suburbs, although its constitution still refers to it as Footscray Football Club. Bains said the change has been successful, as reflected in the club’s record membership count of more than 60,000 and growing support in Ballarat, but he understands some fans would prefer a return to the old name. “It’s taking moments like this week to really honour the past and the tradition, but also being balanced with what’s important for the future strategy and growth of the club,” he said. Read moreMurphy said although there were differences of opinion on the name Bulldogs supporters are united behind the club and its identity “I don’t think division is the right way to look at it “I know that sounds a little bit sort of existential whatever – it’s about the colours that these guys run out in every week and it’s a spiritual place of our footy club.” Murphy joked there were some things were off limits from marketers “Change the colours and that will cause division,” he said This article was amended on 19 March 2025 An earlier version stated that 2025 would be the Western Bulldogs’ centenary it will be 100 years since the club’s first VFL game Victoria Police have launched a high-visibility operation in Footscray Dog Squad and Highway Patrol to crack down on rising crime and anti-social behaviour The intensified police presence comes amid growing concerns from local traders about safety in the Footscray CBD road safety and theft–particularly a worrying 70 per cent spike in thefts from moto vehicles last year A mobile CCTV trailer will be placed in Nicholson Street next week to deter crime and provide live surveillance enhancing police response to emerging incidents Seven searches were carried out on Tuesday using Passive Alert Detector (PAD) dogs trained to detect illicit substances resulting in the seizure of cannabis and synthetic cannabis Five people were charged with drug-related offences A further five individuals were arrested–three for alleged shop thefts and two for outstanding warrants Local officers will also be conducting foot patrols and visiting businesses to promote crime prevention measures Police are urging residents to take basic precautions including locking vehicles and keeping valuables out of sight Said the operation sends a clear message to would-be-offenders “Anyone coming into the area to cause trouble or commit crime is on notice-you will be detected and held accountable,” Ms Hayward said “This is about making Footscray safer and building stronger relationships with the local community.” Footscray will field a league debutant and club debutant in its Easter Sunday clash with Sandringham Ted Middleton (23rd player) will make his VFL debut while recruit David Cuningham will play his first in the red The duo are two of seven changes for the 'Scray Caleb Poulter and Harvey Gallagher added to the line-up Cooper Hynes and Luke Cleary come out of the side after being elevated to the seniors Jarrod Gilbee and Phoenix Spicer will all miss through injury Diesel Moloney and Bailey Young will also sit out Footscray will be looking to keep its winning streak alive when it hosts Sandringham at Mission Whitten Oval The match will mark the second of a Bulldogs' Easter Sunday triple-header treat with the VFLW Dogs hosting Williamstown from 11:05am at Mission Whitten Oval The AFL Dogs will then go head-to-head with St Kilda at Marvel Stadium from 7:20pm Score updates will be available via @FootscrayVFL on X (Twitter), with the game to be streamed live via AFL.com.au The VFLW Bulldogs have submitted their Round 1 team Footscray is as multifaceted and complex as a White Lotus storyline Six kilometres from the city at its nearest end the broader `burb has been mandated as an essential inclusion in any list of Melbourne’s conspicuously hip addresses since the late 1990s It hasn’t been a purely upward story – partly thanks to the pandemic and some interesting development decisions in central Footscray – but the latest chapter in its ongoing tale has seen West Footscray break out of the blocks to seize a starring role as it’s known to locals and real estate agents keen on buzzy contractions is the suburban riposte to the main Barkly Street bustle It’s where you’ll find the family homes and their supportive ecosystem of primary schools Browse Domain’s property and lifestyle magazines a classic Footscray pub with a smart modern reno and a people-pleasing menu “A real point of difference in Footscray is that it has a diverse cross-section of people,” says venue manager Pete Evans “West Footscray is where a lot of our guests come from and they want a night out that won’t kill the budget Footscray’s geography also plays a part in The Plough’s destination venue status “A lot of regional people from Ballarat or Geelong will come in for meet-ups with their Melbourne family Being in the inner west makes it really convenient; it’s not unusual to get three tables of 20 on a Saturday afternoon.” Want the locals’ lowdown on West Footscray? The Instagram account @west-footscray-life has all the goss on the area’s good With Taylor Romao from Jas Stephens Real Estate  I have two go-to spots for a caffeine injection: Dumbo Cafe on Argyle Street, which also makes a fantastic egg and halloumi roll, and Migrant Coffee on Barkly Street, which also has an incredible line up of bagels. Crossing the hipster line: why Thornbury is overtaking neighbouring Northcote as the place to be Brunswick East: From daggy neighbourhood to downright cool Sought-after Victorian tree-change towns where house prices are on discount Only eight kilometres from Melbourne’s CBD, West Footscray is quickly becoming one of our city’s hotspots. This part of Footscray is known for its mix of period homes and modern townhouses, good transport links and its vibrant and welcoming community atmosphere.  With its mix of residential appeal in modern construction and period-style homes, excellent transport links, and its growing amenities and gentrification, West Footscray is capturing the attention of first-home buyers, investors and young professionals alike. 3 Baths1 ParkingView listing The rooftop gracing this smart new townhouse is a stunner – a full-sized, second floor eyrie featuring a built-in outdoor kitchen, a covered seating area and plenty of space to soak up the rays or get your garden started. There’s also a decent sized balcony enhancing the first floor open-plan kitchen and living area. The information on this website is intended to be of a general nature only and doesn't consider your objectives, financial situation or needs. where we are privileged to live and operate Celebrating 50 years of Vietnamese refugee resettlement in Australia this year’s Tết festival at Footscray Park is more than just a celebration - it’s a heartfelt tribute to resilience and the shared gratitude for the chance to rebuild lives in a new home cultural displays and fireworks each evening On the Saturday at around 4.20pm the RAAF will conduct a ceremonial fly over On todays program Chris catches up with Pierre Vairo from Bike West about last weeks quiet opening of the Footscray Road walking and cycling bridge King Stingray, Day off 3CR is proud to acknowledge the Wurundjeri people of the Kulin nation traditional owners of the land from which we transmit people powered radio Western Bulldogs captain Marcus Bontempelli is bringing more than just sporting success to Melbourne’s west teaming up with Ray White Williamstown to support the boutique ARCO apartment development in Footscray The high-profile partnership sees Mr Bontempelli feature in the campaign for the boutique apartment project led by Ray White Williamstown director Joanne Royston Located at 66–68 Pickett Street, ARCO is just a short walk from the Whitten Oval which clearly visible from the building’s rooftop The development offers 16 generously sized three-bedroom residences and one four-bedroom penthouse designed by renowned architect Ben Robertson “The western suburbs is a dynamic area that’s continuing to grow and develop,” Mr Bontempelli said I’m here playing and training just around the corner “There’s a great connection to the community in Footscray It’s only going to continue to grow and evolve.” Ms Royston said Mr Bontempelli’s involvement is helping shine a spotlight on the project which has already attracted a wide range of interest from buyers and young professionals who live locally wanting low maintenance in a great location,” she said “But we’ve also had an enquiry on the penthouse from a young family as well the lifestyle offered with inner city living Currently listed for sale are units with a price guide of $850,000 to $930,000 and a sprawling 427.6sqm four-bedroom penthouse with a private rooftop between $2.5 million and $2.6 million. Residents will also enjoy exclusive access to the on-site Alexam Wellness Centre With two apartments already sold for just over $1 million News Sitemap Residents are invited to discover Footscray’s creative side as we open the doors to celebrate Council’s Creative Places pilot program said the Creative Places Open Doors event is a chance for the community to explore the sights and sounds that have bought new life to under-utilised spaces in Footscray’s CBD “Join us to celebrate the local artists and fellow community members who are playing a key role in revitalising Footscray through the power of art and creativity,” said Mayor Tiwari As the only State Government designated Creative Neighbourhood in Melbourne’s West he also acknowledged Council’s pride in being at the forefront of this exciting initiative “This program highlights our commitment to fostering a vibrant creative hub right here in Footscray the Creative Places program is a testament to Footscray’s rich cultural heritage and growing reputation as a creative hub,” Mayor Tiwari said The Open Doors event celebrates the local artists and community members who are helping to transform Footscray through art and creativity It will feature an eclectic mix of activities designed for people of all ages Metro West Shopping Centre, 47 Paisley St, Footscray For more information please visit: www.maribyrnong.vic.gov.au/arts-and-culture/Events/Creative-Places-Open-Doors Stay up-to-date with the latest news by subscribing to our eNews A stabbing in the Footscray CBD on Friday night has intensified calls for action to curb violence crime and anti-social behaviour in the area A 24-year-old man is in a serious condition in the Royal Melbourne Hospital after being stabbed and assaulted by a group of people on Albert Street at about 9.20pm on February 21 The offenders fled the scene and are still at large as police investigate the circumstances surrounding the stabbing the latest in a long list of incidents in central Footscray The latest quarterly crime statistics showed 4033 offences were recorded in Footscray in the year to September 2024 almost a thousand more than 12 months earlier Maribyrnong council removed a playground from the Nicholson Street Mall due to feedback from local traders about the amount of drug taking and anti-social behaviour occurring there Now some business owners want private security guards employed to patrol the mall and surrounding streets “There are a lot of problems here,” said Johara Mohamed who has owned a variety store on the corner of Nicholson and Paisley streets for the past three years She said safety and security in the area had declined rapidly in the past year “They’re using drugs in front of the shops and we can see them injecting themselves and smoking Sometimes they block the door and customers are too scared to come in,” said Ms Mohamed who said the offenders would disappear in the time it took for police to arrive Maribyrnong mayor Pradeep Tiwari said community safety was a high priority and that council was working with Victoria Police to address the problem as well as employing measures such as CCTV “Footscray is not immune to the challenges other areas face with cost-of-living and mental health issues for vulnerable people,” Cr Tiwari said “Council understands the impact homelessness and addiction can have on the broader community including small businesses and social carers We continue to work closely with the state government and local organisations to improve outreach services in Footscray.” A spokesperson for Victoria Police pointed to Operation OKAMI as evidence it was tackling crime in Footscray noting that a recent operation led to three arrests and 20 drug and weapon searches Footscray MP Katie Hall said she’d secured funding for co-health’s outreach service and established the Future Footscray Initiative as part of her efforts to address the problem ”I want to assure you that these are issues I have been actively working on for several years,” she said WESTERN Bulldogs Football Club will revert to its original name Footscray for Friday night's centennial fixture against Collingwood at the MCG The club was founded in 1877 and won nine premierships in the VFA before gaining entrance in the VFL ahead of the 1925 season at the same time as Hawthorn and North Melbourne Flanked by two of the club's favourite sons Bob Murphy and Tom Liberatore Western Bulldogs president Kylie Watson-Wheeler revealed the name change on Monday morning standing inside the new $78 million Mission Whitten Oval the heart of the footy club is in Footscray and always will be I think the nod to that history is a proud moment for everyone associated with the footy club," Murphy said on Monday morning The club was in a perilous financial position and presented with two options from then-VFL commission chairman Ross Oakley: merge with debt-ridden Fitzroy or lose the club's licence to trade That led to the famous 'Fightback' campaign A legal battle helped the club land an injunction to fight for survival more than $1.6m was raised to save the club the club changed its name from Footscray to the Western Bulldogs to broaden its appeal to a wider region of the west Damian Barrett and Matthew Lloyd with the latest AFL news and opinions from Round 1 "I think any club that survives for 100 years and is now in a position to thrive is incredible Footscray nearly went under a few times and had an identity shift around survival," Murphy said "To now be what it is today and what Tom (Liberatore) led out on Saturday night is a club that is up to its eyeballs in the elite competition This facility is the envy of a lot in the competition and the team showed so much promise I think the next 100 years will be even more exciting "It was a few years after the change of name the spirit of the footy club is the colours The place we are stood on right now is very special I keep using the word proud deliberately because of the trials and how difficult it has been in various parts of the last 30 years Today the club is solid in its foundations and who knows what the possibilities are for the future." Murphy will lead a special pre-game ceremony before the first bounce on Friday night which will include other iconic figures Kelvin Templeton Sarah Olle and Kane Cornes unpack the big issues from the round of footy After three years working in the football department at Fremantle Murphy returned to Melbourne late last year and has not only returned to the media but has also returned to the kennel in a variety of roles across the administration It's a bit like describing what the rain is like; it’s part of who you are I love being back in the colours and I'm in admiration of Tom and his teammates 'Bevo' (coach Luke Beveridge) and his team With captain Marcus Bontempelli sidelined until Gather Round at the earliest due to a complex calf injury vice-captain Liberatore has taken over the captaincy duties to start the year in a sign of just how much he has developed as a leader in the past few years "When I was a teenager I would have said I'd love to (one day captain the club) but during my early days probably not," Liberatore said "It is something I was infatuated with as a kid when I loved watching us growing up Liberatore knows the Bulldogs' storied history better than anyone inside Mission Whitten Oval He was a 10-year-old when his father Tony retired at the end of 2002 earning Team of the Century selection after winning the Brownlow Medal in 1990 The 32-year-old admitted on Monday that his pep talk ahead of the win over North Melbourne on Saturday night caused him a bit of grief during the week but he will be better now he has one under his belt "It was initially quite nerve-racking," Liberatore said "There were moments during the week where I had five or 10 minutes where you get stuck in your own head thinking about how you can ruin the pre-game speech "Once we got settled and got the first one out of the way it was all good he had a nice little joke about the past and the whole room actually laughed." Footscray is aiming to break its all-time home and away attendance record of 68,447 set against Richmond in 1974 – 58,997 is the club's biggest home crowd in 1993 – and is poised to eclipse that with Collingwood playing in front of more than 69,000 people nine times in 2024 Gold Coast Academy’s Usher on her ACL injury rehab battles and best friend Havana Harris incredible misses and more in our look back on the April action of the 2025 Toyota AFL Premiership season Three-time premiership coach Mick Malthouse gives host Bharat Sundaresan the rundown on how Australian football began and how it became such a significant part of Australian culture With a challenging month of away clashes ahead Fremantle needs to find a way to win on the road if it's to seriously contend in 2025 One of footy's famous rivalries will kick off the AFLW season to mark the 10th season of the competition Check out all the action from the state leagues around the country Damian Barrett and Matthew Lloyd with the latest news and opinions from Round 8 Hawthorn and Richmond will all head to the Tribunal this week Footy Feed: Sarah Olle and Riley Beveridge with the latest news Check out the Rising Star for AFL’s Round 8 Will a hard tag from Jack Viney be the reason Harley Reid leaves the Eagles Vote now on your favourite marks from Round 8 of the Toyota AFL Premiership Season The Match Review findings for Sunday's round eight games are in In the spirit of reconciliation the AFL acknowledges the Traditional Custodians of country throughout Australia and their connections to land We pay our respect to their Elders past and present and extend that respect to all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples today Prepare yourself for this incredible evening hosted by the acclaimed Sarah Ward will be the six-piece reggae band Crown Heights with their vibrant energy and dynamic sound that promises to set an electrifying tone for the night a soulful Australian artist celebrated for her mesmerizing voice and a powerful blend of R&B and Indigenous storytelling that’s sure to captivate the crowd whose unique style blends rock's gritty swagger with the glam and groove of disco This irresistible mix of glamour and edge will deliver a fresh the evening will close with an exhilarating Daft Punk Discovery set ensuring a high-energy finale that will leave everyone buzzing This is probably not the page you’re looking for a unique display of our collection of artworks detailing Footscray’s remarkable stories of discovery opportunity and hope through 80 artworks from the eighteenth century to the present day said Summer Road to Saltwater was an incredible opportunity to step back in time and appreciate the changing face of our City has had many lives – from our industrial roots through to our vibrant present I invite the community to explore this unique evolution through our Collection,” Mayor Tiwari said Focussing on the area once known as Saltwater the showcase will offer an opportunity to reflect how identity and place are formed and transformed over time Once reliant on Melbourne for its prosperity and only accessible during summer months Footscray quickly became a place of opportunity The region’s changing landscape including the Maribyrnong River has drawn artists to document both its magnificence and deterioration industrial development and natural disasters have gravely effected the City’s river which was once its main attraction and a source of survival and recently restored Footscray Town Hall as the backdrop the community is invited to explore this display this exhibition will reflect on the changing shape of our municipality and the current challenges facing our environment Council’s Art and Heritage Collection currently contains over 650 works including paintings ephemera and civic items – recording Maribyrnong’s culture The Collection contributes to the celebration and documentation of our cultural creating a sense of belonging by reflecting contemporary and heritage artworks while also fostering an understanding enjoyment and appreciation of the visual public arts Location: Civic Precinct and Community Hub General viewing dates: Wednesdays and Fridays Booking essential for group bookings and curated tours. For more information please visit www.maribyrnong.vic.gov.au/arts-and-culture/Events/Summer-Road-to-Saltwater @WESTERNBULLDOGS @COLLINGWOODFC The registration period has closed for this event Follow the link below to preview the Members' Dining menu Follow the link below to preview the Jim Stynes Grill menu Follow the link below to preview the 1956 menu Follow the link below to preview the Missymu by Shirley menu We can't find the page you are looking for Please try again using the search feature at the top of our website or contact us for assistance Return to our home page or why not visit one of our other sites: Works on the Regional Play Space and Thomson Water Gardens within Footscray Park will begin next month In line with the resolutions from the Council Meeting in December 2023 this includes the removal of the Footscray Park Regional Play Space and restoration works for the Thomson Water Gardens Both areas will be closed to the public and fenced off while these works are undertaken and reopening of some areas is anticipated for February 2025 the site will be transformed into an open area with existing play items salvaged and repurposed A new location for the Play Space will be explored through a master planning process taking into consideration that the current playspace and a large portion of Footscray Park sits within a flood plain The removal of the Play Space and site restoration is expected to be complete by February 2025 The works to the Thomson Water Gardens aim to improve safety accessibility and enjoyment while preserving its historical significance registered as a Historic Place in Victoria is celebrated for its Edwardian garden design Restoration works will include reo-hooping barrier edging these works directly respond to safety audit recommendations A Heritage Permit has been granted for a work The project aims to preserve Footscray Park's heritage while making it safer and more accessible for the community and ongoing restoration will ensure that Footscray Park continues to be an appreciated space for all For more information on the upcoming works and Footscray Park Master Plan please visit: maribyrnong.vic.gov/FootscrayParkProjects Stay up-to-date with the latest news by subscribing to our eNews currently under construction in Melbourne’s west is partly a result of local community campaigning leading to it being affectionately referred to as “the People’s Hospital” — a genesis woven into its design Melbourne’s new Footscray Hospital — now rising on the corner of Geelong and Ballarat Roads — is a tertiary hospital with a design ethos encapsulating the spirit and dedication of the local populace who helped create it; being both in and of its community The new Footscray Hospital is being delivered by Plenary Health in partnership with the Victorian Government and Western Health the campus-sized precinct consists of five buildings that surround a central village green with pedestrian connections into and through the site Its central green space works as a focal point This more than $1.5 billion health infrastructure project is among Victoria’s largest ever the new hospital will treat approximately 15,000 additional patients and enable around 20,000 additional people to be seen by the emergency department each year The hospital’s human-centred design means that every step of the patient journey has been considered from the perspective of reducing stress utilising views of nature to support orientation and wayfinding Immersion in external spaces through the many departments of the hospital enables a retreat for patients Buildings are scaled to suit the site and massed to encourage sunlight penetration and provide wind protection to outdoor amenity Functional beyond its pragmatic requirements it blurs the traditional boundaries between healthcare facilities and community wellness spaces — being a new type of hospital Highly Commended in the Future Projects — Health category of the 2024 World Architecture Festival Awards, the new Footscray Hospital will be a major piece of placemaking — where the community it will serve, and its spirit, has been built into its design. On track for completion late this year, you can learn more about the project at www.vhba.vic.gov.au/health/hospitals/new-footscray-hospital so the page you are looking for may have changed location  Please try the search bar at the top of the site or contact us for support Mention the word Roubaix to any cyclist and their legs arms and elbows will suddenly begin to ache The regional French city is the end point of the famous Paris – Roubaix race one of the worlds most gruelling annual bike races held on the uneven cobblestone roads of northern France While not a race and certainly not designed to be gruelling the inaugural Footscray-Roubaix cycling event on Sunday but this time on the laneways and back alleys of the inner west The event is the brainchild of local Footscray cyclist Elwyn Davies who said that while being influenced to the famous French race it’s actually modelled on the Brunswick-Roubaix cycling event “We just thought we’d do one locally to explore the Footscray area because there’s lots of cobbled back lanes and you might see bits of the area you’re not used too,” said Mr Davies of the ride which also doubles as a fundraiser for the Footscray based Asylum Seeker Resource Centre (ASRC) “The idea is that people will make a donation as they see fit on the day or afterwards because we feel the work they (ASRC) do is valuable.” Mr Davies is hoping for 50 or more riders for inaugural event which will begin at 10am then follow a 30 kilometre route that will be released on cycling apps “It’ll also be clearly marked with painted arrows on the day,” added Mr Davies of the route which riders can complete at their own pace “There’s a few pubs on the way and a few places to get some food,” he said More information: www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61569887031533 By Melissa Cunningham It was almost two years ago that Abdifatah Ahmed suddenly appeared at the front door of Africause in Footscray – dishevelled “He kept saying he had nowhere to live,” Dr Berhan Ahmed recalls Then he spent hours trying to secure crisis accommodation for the Somali refugee who had lived in Australia for years But Abdifatah Ahmed soon became fed up with the delays and all the bureaucracy He left the centre and disappeared back onto the streets It is a story and sliding doors moment the senior research fellow at the University of Melbourne sees every day in his work as chief executive of Africause The not-for-profit organisation provides crucial support to the African-Australian community in Melbourne tackling a wide spectrum of social challenges from homelessness to mental health and addiction On April 17, only metres away from where Ahmed first met Abdifatah Ahmed, the 35-year-old rough sleeper who had mental health problems was shot dead by two police officers after he allegedly lunged at them Hundreds of people rallied peacefully for hours in an emotional protest in the heart of Footscray on Tuesday.Credit: Jason South which unfolded in front of people doing their last-minute Easter shopping It shows Abdifatah Ahmed lying motionless and in the middle of a pedestrian crossing in the heart of Footscray’s CBD just after 9pm Two police officers are seen walking slowly towards him with their guns drawn An officer leans down to check on him as they wait for back-up What happened in the moments before the shots were fired will be scrutinised and picked apart in the months to come An investigation by the homicide squad with oversight from Victoria Police’s Professional Standards Command is already under way which will be independently reviewed for the coroner But calls continue to mount for another independent investigation into the death Police say there 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” “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 police spokeswoman said But a question remains in Footscray: why police did not deploy non-lethal force The Victorian government announced it would arm all frontline police officers with Tasers in 2021 as part of a $214 million But the police union says delays in the government committing to fund the program, and challenges of retraining such a large workforce, meant some officers were yet to be trained and equipped with the shock device – including the two who shot Ahmed who spoke to The Age on the condition of anonymity said he heard the police officers shouting and saw their flashlights flicker in the dark before they ran towards Ahmed with guns drawn “We thought there were Tasers so we were like this guy’s going to get Tasered’,” he says “There was not much time between them shouting and then the guns went off.” He was most shocked by how quickly it all happened The man says he heard somebody yell out: “Why did you kill him?” “The police responded he had a knife,” he says “I believe it was a lifeless body before paramedics arrived I am worried about many of these people in Footscray with mental health and addiction issues,” he says because of lack of access to the right support “How many more people need to be killed before we do something?” and shops selling African wares are surrounded by those living on the edge of society All around the mall are people in the grips of mental illness struggling with addiction or sleeping rough A barefooted man with a bottle of red wine stumbles through the mall A woman on the corner in a hooded jumper begs for money “Did you hear six shots were fired?” a person on the street asks their companion as they walk past a makeshift tribute to Ahmed in an area of the mall known as Little Africa everything from beauty salons for hair braiding to sparkly bright-coloured Eritrean-style dresses can be found and Azhar Habib is standing outside his charcoal chicken shop Azhar Habib runs a charcoal chicken shop in Footscray.Credit: Joe Armao who used to come into his shop for roast chicken He always paid for his meal and was often withdrawn and quiet “I know so many of other homeless people in the area .. Habib says the community is still coming terms with his death “It’s really sad and shouldn’t have happened that way,” he says “There’s so many mental health and addiction problems around here I can’t help but think the police should have come better prepared.” Habib has seen police defuse potentially dangerous situations in the Footscray CBD many times over the years but long-term residents and business owners say the situation has deteriorated significantly in the last two years Traders have also spoken of having to disarm people wielding knives or other weapons like scissors Two months ago, Maribyrnong City Council dismantled a playground at the Nicholson Street Mall due to concerns it was being used to take drugs with needles found hidden in play equipment Habib was one of a group of community members who had an urgent meeting with the council and politicians in the aftermath of Ahmed’s death He and other traders laid bare the grim reality of what they see each day They spoke of the urgent need for culturally diverse social workers who they say could work alongside outreach services in Footscray’s CBD already volunteer with local health and outreach services – offering compassionate culturally sensitive support to help connect people experiencing homelessness with the care they need a gaunt man in a yellow and black baseball jacket wanders over He fist bumps Habib and tells him he has nowhere to sleep tonight and he wants to know when the chicken shop will be open “I will come find you at 12.30,” Habib tells the man Dr Berhan Ahmed talks to community members at the Nicholson Street Mall in Footscray on Thursday He crosses the road and vanishes down the street “He comes to see me and I will give him some food,” Habib says It is important that he feels loved and cared for state Footscray Labor MP Katie Hall met with Premier Jacinta Allan to discuss whether social services in the suburb can operate with a deeper cultural connection which is home to the busiest non-CBD station in Melbourne has always been a place where people seek help She notes the suburb is full of resources including Cohealth mental health service the Saltwater Clinic and others offering housing and addiction support But Dr Berhan Ahmed says the problem is not the number of services available especially what he described as lack of culturally responsive care but they don’t solve the problem,” he says Many of those he supports in the African-Australian community are grappling with complex a lot of them are in such a state of crisis they don’t have any form of ID,” he explains “So when they go to Centrelink or other mainstream services That’s why we started issuing identification cards ourselves.” Ilo Diaz from the Centre Against Racial Profiling said Ahmed’s death had stirred up old racial tensions simmering beneath the surface between the police and the African community For many, Diaz says, it had evoked memories of a 2011 Office of Police Integrity report raising concerns of excessive force and “racial targeting” by police against a group of young men of African background in Melbourne Victoria Police settled a landmark case brought against it by six young African men alleging racial profiling and discrimination between 2005 and 2009 “It’s like a steam pot that’s got no way for the steam to escape and in these moments the lid pops off,” he says The protest in Footscray on Tuesday.Credit: Jason South hundreds took to the streets of Footscray in a peaceful protest demanding an independent inquiry into Ahmed’s death there were raw and fraught scenes as a Somali woman cried out to a row of officers standing guard: “You killed our son.” This week a Victoria Police spokeswoman said: “We strongly reject any claims that this matter was racially motivated.” Habib says has he has not lost hope that trust can be restored with the police but he believes this can only be done through an independent investigation into Ahmed’s death “We need to see justice has been served properly,” he says we will continue to speak up for a man who can no longer speak for himself.” It was almost two years ago that Abdifatah Ahmed suddenly appeared at the front door of Africause in Footscray \\u2013 dishevelled \\u201CHe kept saying he had nowhere to live,\\u201D Dr Berhan Ahmed recalls only metres away from where Ahmed first met Abdifatah Ahmed the 35-year-old rough sleeper who had mental health problems was \\u201CIt has devastated us,\\u201D Ahmed says It shows Abdifatah Ahmed lying motionless and in the middle of a pedestrian crossing in the heart of Footscray\\u2019s CBD just after 9pm An investigation by the homicide squad with oversight from Victoria Police\\u2019s Professional Standards Command is already under way Police say there were confronted with an \\u201Cextremely volatile and high-risk situation\\u201D and made a tactical decision to use their firearms in a \\u201Csmall matter of moments\\u201D \\u201CThis was an incident that could [have] impacted the safety of a large number of people who were in the area on the night,\\u201D a police spokeswoman said The Victorian government all frontline police officers with Tasers in 2021 as part of a $214 million But the police union says delays in the government committing to fund the program and challenges of retraining such a large workforce meant some officers were yet to be trained and equipped with the shock device \\u2013 \\u201CWe thought there were Tasers so we were like this guy\\u2019s going to get Tasered\\u2019,\\u201D he says \\u201CThere was not much time between them shouting and then the guns went off.\\u201D but it was definitely multiple,\\u201D he says \\u201CPeople were crying and screaming.\\u201D The man says he heard somebody yell out: \\u201CWhy did you kill him?\\u201D \\u201CThe police responded he had a knife,\\u201D he says \\u201CI believe it was a lifeless body before paramedics arrived I am worried about many of these people in Footscray with mental health and addiction issues,\\u201D he says \\u201CHow many more people need to be killed before we do something?\\u201D \\u201CDid you hear six shots were fired?\\u201D a person on the street asks their companion \\u201CI know so many of other homeless people in the area .. but he\\u2019s not like that,\\u201D he says \\u201CIt\\u2019s really sad and shouldn\\u2019t have happened that way,\\u201D he says \\u201CThere\\u2019s so many mental health and addiction problems around here I can\\u2019t help but think the police should have come better prepared.\\u201D Maribyrnong City Council due to concerns it was being used to take drugs Habib was one of a group of community members who had an urgent meeting with the council and politicians in the aftermath of Ahmed\\u2019s death They spoke of the urgent need for culturally diverse social workers who they say could work alongside outreach services in Footscray\\u2019s CBD already volunteer with local health and outreach services \\u2013 offering compassionate \\u201CI will come find you at 12.30,\\u201D Habib tells the man an Arabic phrase meaning \\u201CGod willing\\u201D \\u201CHe comes to see me and I will give him some food,\\u201D Habib says \\u201CThese services address the symptoms but they don\\u2019t solve the problem,\\u201D he says a lot of them are in such a state of crisis they don\\u2019t have any form of ID,\\u201D he explains \\u201CSo when they go to Centrelink or other mainstream services That\\u2019s why we started issuing identification cards ourselves.\\u201D Ilo Diaz from the Centre Against Racial Profiling said Ahmed\\u2019s death had stirred up old racial tensions simmering beneath the surface between the police and the African community it had evoked memories of a 2011 Office of Police Integrity report \\u201D by police against a group of young men of African background in Melbourne \\u201CIt\\u2019s like a steam pot that\\u2019s got no way for the steam to escape and in these moments the lid pops off,\\u201D he says hundreds took to the streets of Footscray in a peaceful protest demanding an independent inquiry into Ahmed\\u2019s death there were raw and fraught scenes as a Somali woman cried out to a row of officers standing guard: \\u201CYou killed our son.\\u201D This week a Victoria Police spokeswoman said: \\u201CWe strongly reject any claims that this matter was racially motivated.\\u201D but he believes this can only be done through an independent investigation into Ahmed\\u2019s death \\u201CWe need to see justice has been served properly,\\u201D he says we will continue to speak up for a man who can no longer speak for himself.\\u201D