Melbourne Mayor Alfrey is crediting what he calls amazing work by police to avoid a possible tragedy. Mayor Paul Alfrey praised police for safely resolving a barricade situation yesterday at Archangel Michael Coptic Orthodox Church. That's where authorities say a man identified as Mark Soliman hit a priest and tried to kidnap him.
They say the suspect threatened suicide, but police were able to distract him long enough to safely evacuate all the churchgoers. Soliman was taken into custody peacefully after an almost five-hour standoff, and Alfrey says there's no doubt the loss of life was diverted due to the heroism of Melbourne Police.