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Terrorism Cited in Killing in Australia Terrorism Cited in Killing in Australia
(35 minutes later)
SYDNEY — Counterterrorism police officers arrested five people on Wednesday morning in connection with a youth’s fatal shooting of a police accountant last Friday, an attack that officials have described as terrorism. SYDNEY — Counterterrorism police officers arrested four people on Wednesday morning in connection with a teenager’s fatal shooting of a police accountant last Friday, an attack that officials have described as terrorism.
Raids in Sydney’s western suburbs early Wednesday involved more than 200 officers from the joint counterterrorism and state crime homicide squads, the police said in a statement. The raids were linked to the killing of Curtis Cheng, 58, who was shot by a 15-year-old at the Police Headquarters in the Sydney suburb of Parramatta as he left work on Friday afternoon, the police said. Raids in Sydney’s western suburbs early Wednesday involved more than 200 officers from the joint counterterrorism and state crime homicide squads. The raids were linked to the killing of Curtis Cheng, 58, who was shot by a 15-year-old at the Police Headquarters in the Sydney suburb of Parramatta as he left work on Friday afternoon, the police said.
Officers responding to the attack then fatally shot the 15-year-old after he continued firing, the police said. He was later identified by local news media as Farhad Jabar Khalil Mohammad.Officers responding to the attack then fatally shot the 15-year-old after he continued firing, the police said. He was later identified by local news media as Farhad Jabar Khalil Mohammad.
In describing the attack as terrorism, Andrew Scipione, the New South Wales police commissioner, said over the weekend, “We believe that his actions were politically motivated and therefore linked to terrorism.” “We don’t know the motivation of the 15-year old,” said the New South Wales deputy police commissioner, Catherine Burn. “What we are investigating is a terrorism offense,” she said, adding that investigators suspect the boy had been influenced, either ideologically or politically, to kill.
It was not clear how the gunman might have been connected to those arrested Wednesday in the case. The five were all male and from Sydney’s northwest suburbs, ranging in age from 16 to 24, the police said. It was not clear how the boy might have been connected to those arrested Wednesday in the case. The four were all male and from Sydney’s northwest suburbs, ranging in age from 16 to 22, the police said. A fifth man was detained on a fraud warrant and later released.
The police also visited a mosque in Parramatta where it was believed the 15-year-old worshiped, according to local news reports. On Tuesday they also reportedly visited the youth’s school, where another youth was questioned about his posts on social media and later arrested and charged with assaulting the police and resisting arrest. The police also visited a mosque in Parramatta where it was believed the boy worshiped, according to local news reports. On Tuesday they also reportedly visited his school, where another youth was questioned about his posts on social media and later arrested and charged with assaulting the police.
Mr. Scipione said the 15-year-old had not been known to the police and had no criminal record. Mr. Scipione said the 15-year-old had no criminal record.
Mike Baird, the premier of New South Wales, where Sydney is located, said Tuesday that it was incredible that a 15-year-old could commit such a murder without any form of assistance or encouragement. Mike Baird, the premier of New South Wales, said Tuesday that it was not credible that a 15-year-old could commit such a murder without some form of assistance or encouragement.