Australia 'trolley hero' faces police charges Published duration 17 November 2018

image copyright EPA image caption Pushing his trolley, Michael Rogers (left) helped police confront the attacker

A homeless man who used his shopping trolley to try to ram a knife-wielding attacker in Melbourne has been charged with offences including burglary and theft.

Michael Rogers, dubbed "Trolley Man" online, was filmed on 9 November trying to prevent Hassan Khalif Shire Ali from stabbing two police officers.

The suspect had already killed a cafe owner and injured two other people.

Mr Rogers was called in by police for questioning on Friday.

Australian media reported that the five alleged offences - two counts of burglary, two counts of theft and committing an indictable offence while on bail - had taken place before the 9 November attack.

Mr Rogers has been hailed as a hero for his efforts to prevent Shire Ali from stabbing two police officers.

media caption The attacker set a car on fire and stabbed three people

When tracked down by reporters, the 46-year-old told 7 News: "I threw the trolley straight at him, and I got him. I didn't quite get him down, though."

At the time he was only metres from a burning car full of gas cylinders, which the attacker had set alight near Bourke Street, a busy road in the city centre.

An online fundraising campaign for Mr Rogers has raised more than A$140,000 ($103,000; £80.000).

It was set up by Donna Stolzenberg, founder of the charity Melbourne Homeless Collective, to help get him back on his feet.