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Police search Parramatta mosque gunman allegedly visited before shooting Police search Parramatta mosque gunman allegedly visited before shooting
(35 minutes later)
Police have searched the mosque frequented by the Sydney teenager who allegedly shot dead New South Wales police employee Curtis Cheng outside Parramatta headquarters on Friday, before being killed in a firefight with police. Police have searched the mosque visited by the Sydney teenager who allegedly shot dead New South Wales police employee Curtis Cheng outside Parramatta headquarters on Friday, before being killed in a firefight with police.
Video footage from Seven News shows black-clad 15-year-old Farhad Khalil Mohammad Jabar pacing outside the Charles Street police complex moments after shooting Cheng at point-blank range from behind. The 58-year-old accountant was a 17-year veteran of the NSW police finance department. Video footage from Seven News shows black-clad 15-year-old Farhad Jabar Khalil Mohammad pacing outside the Charles Street police complex moments after shooting Cheng at point-blank range from behind. The 58-year-old accountant was a 17-year veteran of the NSW police finance department.
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Jabar can be seen waving a handgun and firing at three special constables, tasked with protecting the police station, who went outside when they heard gunshots. The video then cuts to Jabar lying at the bottom of the entry ramp, dead. Farhad can be seen waving a handgun and firing at three special constables, tasked with protecting the police station, who went outside when they heard gunshots. The video then cuts to Farhad lying at the bottom of the entry ramp, dead.
Jabar was born in Iran of Iraqi-Kurdish descent. The Sydney Morning Herald reported that he attended Arthur Phillip High School, just around the corner from the police headquarters. The NSW premier, Mike Baird, and police commissioner, Andrew Scipione, paid a personal visit to Cheng’s family over the weekend to express their condolences.
On Friday afternoon, Jabar left school and headed west to the Parramatta mosque on Marsden Street. He apparently changed clothes there before making the 10-minute return walk east to the police headquarters. Cheng’s wife, Selina, son, Alpha, and daughter, Zilvia, released a statement on Sunday remembering him as “a kind, gentle, and loving person”.
“He was humorous, generous of heart, and always put the family first,” the statement said. “He has set a tremendous example for us as a family.
“We are deeply saddened and heartbroken that he has been taken from us, but we are truly grateful for the fruitful and happy life he has shared with us.”
Farhad was born in Iran of Iraqi-Kurdish descent. The Sydney Morning Herald reported that he attended Arthur Phillip High School, just around the corner from the police headquarters.
On Friday afternoon, Farhad left school and headed west to the Parramatta mosque on Marsden Street. He apparently changed clothes there before making the 10-minute return walk east to the police headquarters.
Police searched the mosque on Saturday.Police searched the mosque on Saturday.
Neil El-Kadomi, the chairman of the Parramatta mosque, told Guardian Australia he received a call from police about 7.30pm and went to the mosque to let a group of detectives in.Neil El-Kadomi, the chairman of the Parramatta mosque, told Guardian Australia he received a call from police about 7.30pm and went to the mosque to let a group of detectives in.
“They ring me, I went there, they searched, but they didn’t find anything,” El-Kadomi said. “We support the police, we work with the police, the police were happy with our support.”“They ring me, I went there, they searched, but they didn’t find anything,” El-Kadomi said. “We support the police, we work with the police, the police were happy with our support.”
El-Kadomi said Jabar had been to the mosque a few times but was not a member of their community. He said the mosque was “unconnected” to Jabar’s actions, saying, “we condemn it.” El-Kadomi said Farhad had been to the mosque a few times but was not a member of their community. He said the mosque was “unconnected” to Farhad’s actions, saying, “we condemn it.”
“He is not known to us,” El-Kadomi said. “He is a boy, alone, comes sometimes to pray. A very, very limited time. And then what he did is not accepted.”“He is not known to us,” El-Kadomi said. “He is a boy, alone, comes sometimes to pray. A very, very limited time. And then what he did is not accepted.”
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Jabar’s public social media profiles have been silent for a few years, but earlier posts paint a picture of an ordinary Australian teenager. Public social media profiles believed to belong to Farhad have been silent for a few years, but earlier posts paint a picture of an ordinary Australian teenager.
A Twitter account that appears to be Jabar’s dates from in April 2013, and was apparently used for the sole purpose of following reality TV talent show The Voice. The account followed eight people, all, with the exception of actor Hugh Jackman, connected to the show. Its final tweet, dated May 28, 2013, reads “Miami is the best”. A Twitter account that appears to be Farhad’s dates from in April 2013, and was apparently used for the sole purpose of following reality TV talent show The Voice. The account followed eight people, all, with the exception of actor Hugh Jackman, connected to the show. Its final tweet, dated May 28, 2013, reads “Miami is the best”.
The NSW police commissioner, Andrew Scipione, said on Saturday that police had “no information that this individual posed this type of threat.”The NSW police commissioner, Andrew Scipione, said on Saturday that police had “no information that this individual posed this type of threat.”
Scipione said Jabar’s “exact motivation still remains a mystery to us,” but that “we believe his actions were politically motivated and therefore linked to terrorism.” Scipione said Farhad’s “exact motivation still remains a mystery to us,” but that “we believe his actions were politically motivated and therefore linked to terrorism.”
He said there was no information, at that early stage in the investigation, to suggest that Jabar “was doing anything but acting alone”. Police still don’t know how he got a handgun. He said there was no information, at that early stage in the investigation, to suggest that Farhad’s “was doing anything but acting alone”. Police still don’t know how he got a handgun.
Scipione said it appears Cheng was targeted just because he walked out of the police station. “He was a much-loved man, [he had] been with us a long time. I don’t think I’ve ever heard anyone have a bad word about Curtis and he will be missed,” he said.Scipione said it appears Cheng was targeted just because he walked out of the police station. “He was a much-loved man, [he had] been with us a long time. I don’t think I’ve ever heard anyone have a bad word about Curtis and he will be missed,” he said.
The ABC has reported that police identified Jabar after his older brother, who had heard the news, called and said it might be him. The same report, quoting unnamed senior police sources, says that Jabar’s sister went missing from the family’s North Parramatta apartment on Thursday and apparently caught a Singapore Airlines flight to Instanbul. The ABC has reported that police identified Farhad after his older brother, who had heard the news, called and said it might be him. The same report, quoting unnamed senior police sources, says that Farhad’s sister went missing from the family’s North Parramatta apartment on Thursday and apparently caught a Singapore Airlines flight to Instanbul.
Scipione said it was important to separate Jabar’s actions from his faith. Scipione said it was important to separate Farhad’s actions from his faith.
“First and foremost, simply because a certain person is of the Muslim faith doesn’t mean that they are a terrorist,” he said. “We shouldn’t be treating entire communities like they are all suspects because that’s simply not the case. This is a small, small, small minority.”“First and foremost, simply because a certain person is of the Muslim faith doesn’t mean that they are a terrorist,” he said. “We shouldn’t be treating entire communities like they are all suspects because that’s simply not the case. This is a small, small, small minority.”
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The prime minister, Malcolm Turnbull, had a phone conference with the premier of NSW Mike Baird, Scipione, and seven or eight Muslim leaders on Saturday to discuss the shooting.The prime minister, Malcolm Turnbull, had a phone conference with the premier of NSW Mike Baird, Scipione, and seven or eight Muslim leaders on Saturday to discuss the shooting.
One of those leaders was Dr Jamal Rifi, a Sydney GP and prominent member of the Lebanese Muslim community. He told AAP the phone call signaled a critical mood shift in Australia’s response to incidents like this.One of those leaders was Dr Jamal Rifi, a Sydney GP and prominent member of the Lebanese Muslim community. He told AAP the phone call signaled a critical mood shift in Australia’s response to incidents like this.
“Before, we felt that as a community we were fighting radicalisation with our hands tied behind our back and with this telephone conversation, where the prime minister listened to every member of that teleconference, we felt that the shackles came off,” he said. “The mood right now has shifted. It’s not about blame it’s about solution.”“Before, we felt that as a community we were fighting radicalisation with our hands tied behind our back and with this telephone conversation, where the prime minister listened to every member of that teleconference, we felt that the shackles came off,” he said. “The mood right now has shifted. It’s not about blame it’s about solution.”