From Islamic Community in Victoria
"Victoria's Islamic community has already been the target of threats after a young Muslim man attacked police.
Public commentary linking 18-year-old Numan Haider's actions to terrorism and the Islamic State group was premature, says Islamic Council of Victoria (ICV) secretary Ghaith Krayem.
A formal investigation into the police shooting would address this issue and, until then, such commentary was unfounded and would only increase resentment towards the Muslim community.
Mr Krayem said his organisation had already been targeted by threats.
"Since last night's events, we have received - at the council here - a number of communications ... contacts from people expressing views which I would find absolutely abhorrent," Mr Krayem told reporters today.
"Threats, language against the family of the young man, clearly there are - and I use this deliberately - extremists on all sides of the community."
In response to some media reports that the Narre Warren man had intended to behead the officers, Mr Krayem said what was confirmed was that Mr Haider was under surveillance but was not sought for arrest, and had agreed to attend the Endeavour Hills police station.
He met two officers in the police station car park and "something occurred".
"There is a legal process that he is entitled to and we insist takes place," Mr Krayem said.
"I refuse to condemn anybody who has not gone through that legal process, let alone somebody who is not here to defend themselves."
Mr Krayem also said he did not know Mr Haider, but many 18-year-olds were prone to doing ill-considered things that rebelled against authority.
"They can be brash, they can be immature .... None of those things make him a terrorist," he said.
Lebanese Muslim Association president Samier Dandan said there was a broader problem of some young Muslim men feeling isolated and disenfranchised and, in a period of heightened terrorism concerns, they could feel "profiled" by authorities as a risk.
"They do feel victimised in some sense," Mr Dandan said.
"(But) the psychology of why an 18-year-old would even go to a police station carrying some weapon with him is really very upsetting.
"Why would an 18-year-old, born and raised in Australia, get to that extent?"
The Victorian government, and police, said they would reach out to the Islamic community.
"There will be race tensions, there is no doubt about that," Victoria Police chief commissioner Ken Lay told reporters.
"It is absolutely critical that we give the faith communities in Victoria support and information, we allow them to share their concerns with us."
Read more at
http://www.9news.com.au/national/2014/09/24/07/34/investigate-vic-shooting-muslim-leaders#0jELEi0IGDlzAXke.99
