An elderly worshipper has been stabbed to death and two others injured allegedly by a man who was refused entry to a Melbourne mosque because he was agitated.
It took eight police officers to arrest the 22-year-old alleged assailant after trying to subdue him using capsicum spray and then a taser stun-gun.
Forty people were inside the Broadmeadows Turkish Islamic and Cultural Centre in Dallas when the man pulled out a knife after being told he couldn't go inside because of his agitated state, Detective Senior Sergeant Stuart Bailey said.
Three elderly men, all aged around 70, came out and were all allegedly stabbed as they tried to prevent the man getting inside.
The suspect, named as Erol Elmas, faced an out of sessions court hearing on Thursday evening and was charged with one count of murder.
"It's an horrific attack on three elderly gentlemen that were just trying to go about their normal business at the mosque," Det Sen Sgt Bailey told reporters.
A 68-year-old Glenroy man died at the scene.
Two other men, from Mickleham and Craigieburn, are in hospital, one in a critical condition.
Resident Yunus Saglam, who attends the mosque and knew the dead man, said the injured men had been trying to help.
"I heard there was some kind of argument," he said.
"The sad thing is they were just trying to help and break things up."
The 22-year-old man had been at the mosque on Wednesday but was not a member, Det Sen Sgt Bailey said.
He said there were about 40 people inside the mosque during the 11am incident, many of whom were female and elderly.
He said it was too early to say whether the attacker was affected by drugs but he said police did not believe the attack resulted from religious tensions.
Det Sen Sgt Bailey said all three victims and the offender were of Turkish background.
A sergeant was allegedly assaulted trying to arrest the Broadmeadows man.
Police unsuccessfully used capsicum spray on the suspect in the centre's car park and then used a taser stun-gun on him when he ran into the street.
The suspect was treated in hospital for the effects of the capsicum spray and taser before being released to be interviewed by police.
The suspect has been remanded in custody and will face the Melbourne Magistrates Court on Friday.
