One person has been shot dead and two police officers have been stabbed after an incident in Melbourne.
THE Grand Mufti of Australia and other Islamic leaders have united to reject the fatwa issued by against Australia by members of the terrorist group IS.
The Grand Mufti of Australia Dr Ibrahim Abu Mohamed made his comments in Sydney at a press conference today, saying: “The sanctity of life is of paramount importance to all people of faith and to all people of goodwill.”
Lebanese Muslim Association president Samier Dandan also revealed that four Australian mosques in Sydney had received threats in the wake of recent incidents.
He condemned the IS threats, saying: “We do not stand for our faith to be hijacked by any minority group whatsoever.”
“God forbid something happens here and it only takes one person, who would pay the price the most? That’s my biggest fear.”
“We all play a role, we all need to come together as one family making sure the notion of family is very strong.”
“We don’t want our youth to be instructed by Imam YouTube or Sheikh Google and this is the dilemma.”
The calls for restraint and peace from members of the Islamic community’s clergy come as the investigation in to the shooting death of Muslim man Numan Haider continues.
Victorian Police Commissioner Ken Lay said the teenage Muslim man who was shot dead after stabbing two counterterrorism officers last night had been under surveillance for months.
Mr Lay told 3AW radio this morning that the suspect “had one thing on his mind and that was to do the most amount of harm to these people (police officers) that he could”.
Haider had posted photos of himself on Facebook holding an Islamic flag wearing army camouflage.
“I think the fact that the joint counter terrorism taskforce was doing some work around him indicates our level of concern,” Mr Lay added.
This is the face of the dead teen, 18-year-old Afghan Numan Haider. Picture: Facebook Source: HeraldSun
Victorian Premier Denis Napthine speaks during a press conference over the shooting, with Victoria Police Chief Commissioner Ken Lay (R) and Deputy Commissioner Andrew Colvin (L). Picture: Getty Source: Getty Images
Prime Minister Tony Abbott releases statement on the teen terror suspect shot dead by Police in Melbourne.
Speaking from Hawaii on his way to New York, Tony Abbott described last night’s event as a “nasty incident”.
The suspect mounted a “fierce attack” on the officers, he said in a video statement.
“Obviously this indicates that there are people in our community who are capable of very extreme acts.
“It also indicates that the Police will be constantly vigilant to protect us against people who would do us harm.”
The Prime Minister said he has spoken to the wives of both officers, “to assure them of the government’s support and of the government’s respect for the professionalism with which the Police seemed to have acted here”.
Federal Justice Minister Michael Keenan encouraged Australians to “remain calm” this morning in the wake of the incident.
The Minister said the teen was a known terror suspect.
“The person in question was a known terror suspect who was a person of interest to law enforcement and intelligence agencies,” Mr Keenan told reporters in Canberra.
He said the Government’s “thoughts” were with the injured officers and their families.
“The most seriously injured officer is from the Australian Federal Police and he is in a serious but stable condition,” he said.
“The second officer is from Victoria Police and he is stable.”
Forensic police investigate outside the Endeavour Hills police station. Picture: Nicole Garmston Source: News Corp Australia
Detectives at the scene outside Endeavour Hills police station in Melbourne’s southeast. Picture: Nicole Garmston Source: News Corp Australia
He described his attack against the officers as “unprovoked”.
“It appears that the shooting by the police officer was in self-defence,” he added.
“While this is a horrible incident we do need to remain calm and go about our daily lives.”
Minister for Justice Michael Keenan has urged Australians to remain calm. Source: News Corp Australia
Mr Keenan said he had been in contact with the Prime Minister who is on his way to New York for UN meetings to combat IS.
The Minister refused to take questions, insisting the operation is still ongoing.
“The police are our front line against people who wish to do us harm,” he said in his statement in Parliament House.
“It is exactly this type of bravery and dedication shown by these officers that will continue to keep our communities safe and secure.”
Praising police ... Holt MP Anthony Byrne. Source: News Limited
The federal MP in Endeavour Hills, Labor’s Anthony Byrne, said last night’s events have “quite clearly had an impact” on his electorate of Holt.
He praised the work of the two officers who “literally put their lives on the line to keep our community safe”.
The MP, who is also the deputy chair of the Parliamentary Joint Committee on Intelligence and Security, said the event proves the need for the recent decision to raise the terror level.
“I hope it’s been pretty clear with the circumstances that have been occurring in Australia more recently and in my electorate particularly yesterday evening that this threat is significant, this threat is real,” he told reporters in Canberra.
“To my electorate, to my community, to my country, keep calm, keep resolve.
“The fact is that these people, they want to interfere with our way of life, the way we do business. We cannot let them win.
“I’ll do everything within my power as a member of parliament to ensure that we keep our community as safe as possible.”
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