Sickening threat sparks mass shooting panic in Sydney – as major counter-terror operation is launched
A major counter-terrorism operation has been launched after Sydney’s newest mosque received a mass-shooting threat.
Police attended the Australian Islamic House Masjid in Edmondson Park in south-west Sydney on Tuesday after the mosque ‘immediately’ reported an threat posted on its Instagram page.
‘I’m about to christ church [sic] 2.0 this join[t]’ the comment read.
The statement appeared to reference to the Al-Noor Mosque massacre in New Zealand on March 15, 2019, where Australian Brenton Tarrant shot dead 51 innocent worshippers.
Australian Islamic House Masjid just opened it doors last Friday in time for the start of Ramadan.
President Mazhar Hadid said the mosque was ‘profoundly concerned’ by the threat but will continue to host nightly prayers during Ramadan.
‘We are profoundly concerned by this threat and take it with the utmost seriousness,’ Mr Hadid said in a statement.
The Australian Islamic House Masjid (pictured) alerted police to an online threat allegedly made on its social media page just four days after it opened its doors
The mosque has urged the public to ‘remain vigilant and to stand united against Islamophobia and all forms of bigotry’
‘Our community deserves to feel safe and protected, just like any other citizen of this country.
‘We call on the authorities to treat this matter with the highest urgency and to ensure that all places of worship are safeguarded against such acts of hatred and violence.
‘We also urge the public to remain vigilant and to stand united against Islamophobia and all forms of bigotry.’
The mosque will continue to host nightly prayers during Ramadan following consultation with police.
Strike Force Pearl officers will increase their presence in the vicinity to ensure the safety of parishioners.
The comment appeared under a post celebrating the mosque opening its doors last Friday after ‘decades in the making’.
The same user wrote other comments under the same post instructing worshippers to ‘leave the country’.
Initial inquiries revealed the source of the threat was interstate, according to NSW Police
NSW Premier Chris Minns said anybody caught making racist threats would be met with the ‘full force of the law’.
‘This is very distressing, particularly as Muslims right across the state are participating in prayer during the month of Ramadan,’ he said.
‘The NSW government and NSW Police are taking this very seriously.
‘Racist threats and Islamophobia will not be tolerated and will be met with the full force of the law.’
NSW Police have confirmed it’s taking the alleged threat very seriously.
Christchurch police responded at the time to the live-streamed terrorist attack by Australian-born man Brenton Tarrant
‘There are no ongoing threats to the community and initial inquiries revealed the source of the threat was interstate,’ a police statement read.
‘Increased taskings will be conducted by officers as part of Strike Force Pearl.’
Anyone with information is asked to call Liverpool Police or Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.
