Shot teen's recent actions 'cause for concern'

Abdul Numan Haider was shot at the Endeavour Hills police station. Photo / Getty Images

There were no specific threats made against Australian Prime Minister Tony Abbott by the teen fatally shot by police in Melbourne, police say.

Australian Federal Police acting commissioner Andrew Colvin said: "There were no specific threats made. Police and security agencies in this country do not have any information of any specific threats and we didn't have information of a specific threat on this occasion." Media reports had suggested the youth had made specific threats against Abbott.

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

He was considered a terror suspect whose passport was cancelled on security grounds about a week ago.

Victoria Police chief commissioner Ken Lay said the youth first came in contact with police about three months ago.

"What we saw did cause us some concerns which resulted in us taking some interest in him. It's true to say late last week we learned of some behaviours that were causing us significant concern and our interest was greatly heightened." Colvin said: "It was a range of factors that had escalated our interest in this gentleman over the recent days, a range of factors that gave us concern about possibly his intentions and what he may do. But again it wasn't specific."

The teen had been seen in a shopping centre with a flag that appeared to be from jihadist group Isis but that was not the only factor that led police to escalate interest in him.

"It was factors in terms of activity at shopping centres, more about rhetoric and things that he had been heard to say," Colvin said.

The teen greeted two officers with a handshake before stabbing them both multiple times outside the police station.

Victoria Police Assistant Commissioner Luke Cornelius said a Victorian officer fired a single shot that killed the man. "Our members had no inkling that this individual posed a threat to them," he said.

- AAP