Shooting not about faith: Vic premier

Victorian Premier Denis Napthine said the shooting of a terror suspect was about the behaviour of one individual not one particular group.

The scene of a fatal shooting at Endeavour Hills Police Station

Victoria's premier says the fatal shooting of a terror suspect was a tragic and isolated incident. (AAP)

Victorian Premier Denis Napthine says the fatal shooting of a terror suspect who stabbed two police officers is about the behaviour of an individual and not a group.

An 18-year-old Muslim man, named in media reports as Numan Haider or Abdul Numan Haider, stabbed two police officers outside Endeavour Hills police station before being shot.

Dr Napthine says it was a tragic and isolated incident which should not be allowed to divide the Victorian community.

"It is not about faith, it is not about ethnicity, it is about the alleged behaviour of one individual," he told reporters on Wednesday.

"It is critical that one particular group is not singled out or targeted."

Dr Napthine said the state had a harmonious, diverse multicultural and multi-faith community and "we shouldn't let a single incident divide that".

The man was a known terror suspect whose passport was cancelled on security grounds about a week ago.

He had been seen in a shopping centre with a flag that appeared to be from jihadist group ISIS, also known as Islamic State, but that was not the only factor that led police to escalate interest in him.

Dr Napthine said he would consider outlawing public displays of the flag associated with the Islamic State terrorist group.

"We'll be guided by the (Victoria Police) chief commissioner on those matters and if there is a requirement to change laws we'll consider that," he said.

He said he had every confidence Victoria Police would conduct a thorough and appropriate investigation into the shooting.

"The death of any individual is always tragic irrespective of the circumstances," Dr Napthine said.

Dr Napthine said he would meet with Victoria's faith leaders to talk about how problems could be dealt with.

"We'll be asking faith leaders what particular actions they believe will address the issues they say are ongoing problems," he said.

Opposition Leader Daniel Andrews said Victoria was stronger and better than what occurred on Tuesday night.

"We are an inclusive, respectful, richly diverse multi-cultural and multi-faith community," he told reporters on Wednesday.

"And we need to come together at this difficult time and we need to make the strongest possible statement that we're stronger, we're better, we're bigger than the events of last night and I'm confident that Victorians will do that."


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