A 48-year-old man has been remanded in custody charged with the murder of Brisbane City Council bus driver Manmeet Alisher, 11 counts of attempted murder relating to his passengers, and arson.
Anthony Mark Edward O’Donohue appeared briefly in the Brisbane Magistrates Court this morning.
Outside court, O’Donohue’s lawyer Adam Magill described the matter as “very heinous” and said he did not expect his client to apply for bail.
“His major concern as far as I’m concerned at this point in time is his mental health, that needs to be assessed,” he said.
“He’s numb at this stage … I don’t think he’s feeling anything at this point in time.
“He’s trying to come to terms with what happened himself.”
Police said yesterday Mr Alisher, 29, was killed when a flammable device was thrown at him while he was behind the wheel of a Brisbane City Council bus at Moorooka on the city’s southside.
Superintendent Jim Keogh said there was “no apparent motive” for the attack and that police had ruled out terrorism.
Today, bus drivers on the job across Brisbane are wearing black armbands as a sign of respect for their dead colleague, his friends and family.
A flag is flying at half mast over City Hall in the Brisbane CBD.
Delegates at the Queensland ALP conference on the Gold Coast this morning stood for a minute’s silence to mark the deaths of Mr Alisher and the four victims of the Dreamworld tragedy.
Six people were on the bus during the attack on Mr Alisher, who was also known as Manmeet Sharma.
Top Comments
How does this happen in this country?? If this was racially motivated, we should feel greatly ashamed. That poor man. How will his family recover?
Sadly with the rise of Pauline Hanson, the constant attacks that all Muslims are terrorists it was only a matter of time before this happens or does happen again. Too many people are listening to the rants of racists who simply do not represent this country. I fear our country is heading in the direction Germany once did. Clearly the results of history means nothing. This poor man it breaks my heart
What rubbish! To try and lay the blame on Pauline Hanson for this attack is outrageous and ignorant; and then to compare this wonderful country with Nazi Germany is clearly a dangerous step too far.
This country is generous to a fault and racism, if it exists, is only a small percentage of the population.
The man who allegedly committed this crime has, apparently, a history of mental illness.
Why are people so quick to jump on board the racism train? The man who allegedly committed this crime has, apparently, a history of mental illness.