Bourke St attacker’s family and friends speak out on his past

The family of the Bourke St attacker say he was delusional and not a terrorist.

Flowers laid in memory of Sisto Malaspina on Bourke street. Source: Francesca Rizzoli/SBS Italian

Hassan Khalif Shire Ali’s relatives have been too distraught to speak but in a handwritten letter have said the 30-year-old was “crying for help” because he was mentally ill.

“He has seen a psychologist and psychiatrist but stopped as his paranoia and hallucinations led him to believe they’re ‘after him’,” his sister wrote in a letter to Nine News.

“Please stop turning this into a political game. This isn’t a guy who has any connections with terrorism but was simply crying for help.”

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