Daesh terrorist group* has stated that one of its fighters conducted a recent stabbing attack in Melbourne on Friday, Reuters reported, adding that no evidence for the claim has been provided.
Prior to the statement, Victoria's Police Commissioner Graham Ashton said that police were treating the incident as a terror attack.
The local police have not yet publicly identified the man. However, the NZ Herald stated that in 2009, he was acquitted for his role in a terrorist plot; he'd aimed to launch a suicide attack at Sydney's Holsworthy army barracks.
On Saturday, Ian McCartney, Australian Federal Police Acting Deputy Commissioner, told reporters, "there are links to the Islamic State," however the link was more of an inspirational nature than direct contact between the terror group and the assailant.
*Daesh (also known as ISIS/ISIL/IS) is a terrorist group banned in Russia and many other countries.
