Police investigating social media threats to Sydney mosque
Police are investigating after a social media threat to a mosque in Sydney, weeks after a similar incident involving another mosque. A TikTok account allegedly referenced the 2019 Christchurch mass shooting in response to a video filmed at Lakemba Mosque. The Lebanese Muslim Association said the reply is one of three recent incidents referring to the 2019 shootings, and is the second time that TikTok account has made inciteful comments.
NSW Police said it received reports of the comments yesterday.
"The NSW Police Force takes hate crimes seriously and encourages anyone who is the victim of a hate crime or witnesses a hate crime to report the matter to police," a spokesperson said.
Australia's Special Envoy to Combat Islamophobia Aftab Malik said it was a deeply disturbing example of anti-Muslim hate.
"Following the recent spate of Islamophobic incidents including the bashings of women at a Melbourne shopping centre and threats towards other mosques in Sydney, the Australian Muslim community is understandably feeling anxious, fearful, and concerned," he said.
"I demand our leaders and authorities ensure the safety of the Muslim community is treated as a top priority and that appropriate security arrangements are put in place around our mosques."
Two weeks ago, a 16-year-old boy was charged over an alleged online threat towards the Australian Islamic House Masjid Mosque in Edmondson Park.
At the time, NSW Police Commissioner Karen Webb said police took alleged threats "very seriously", with WA police arresting the teenager just eight hours after the alleged comments were reported.
(Source:9news)
