Brisbane’s Greek Club locked down at time of fatal police shooting

A police officer is seen placing a evidence marker next to the body of the victim at the scene of a fatal police shooting at South Brisbane outside the Greek Club on Tuesday. Photo: AAP/Darren England.

Things appear to be back to normal at Brisbane’s Greek Club, following this week’s fatal police shooting outside the premises.

Neos Kosmos was told that General Manager Les Kostoglou and staff were in full swing preparing for this weekend’s Paniyiri Festival when contacted on Thursday morning.

The incident which took place on Tuesday afternoon involved two police officers and an armed man who was shot dead after police tried unsuccessfully to subdue him with a taser.

Police allege the 34-year-old man attempted to get inside their marked police van which was stopped and that he rushed at an officer threatening them with a 30-centimetre metal rod.

After the taser deployed was ineffective, police fired their weapons.

The man was shot three times and died at the scene.

Following the incident, a crime scene was established in Edmonstone Street, outside the Greek Club.

Speaking to the ABC, the venue’s General manager Les Kostoglou said he had heard the shots from inside the building and that when the shooting occurred there were minimal staff inside the venue which was not open to the public at the time.

“I just called out for the staff to all get down and lock themselves in the offices,” he said adding that he ran to lock the front doors.

The Greek Club has a busy weekend ahead with the Paniyiri Festival. Its Nostimo restaurant is open both days and wine tasting will be take place at the Greek Club during the weekend.

He had told the ABC that he heard no other noises in the lead-up to the shooting.

The 34-year-old man spotted by police on Edmonstone Street matched the description and clothing of a male involved in earlier disturbances in nearby Fish Lane, where someone fell through a roof and allegedly tried to assault people.

Detective Superintendent Andrew Massingham said there were also reports of a man “acting irrational and attempting to pull his pants down”.

The Queensland Police Union defended the action of the officers involved saying they had “no other option” but to shoot the man after being “in fear of their lives”.

“This is just a tragic situation where police are just doing their job and the offender actually approached and engaged with them,” union president Ian Leavers said.

“We try to resolve things peacefully but when things happen within two to three seconds, our options are limited.

“I just want employees to go home safe at the end of every shift.”

An investigation on behalf of the State Coroner has been underway by the Ethical Standards Command and the incident is subject to oversight by the Crime and Corruption Commission.