The Australian September 13, 2012 3:17PM
Melbourne's al-Furqan Centre and bookshop in Springvale South. Picture: Stuart McEvoy Source: The Australian
THE leader of a Bosnian mosque in Melbourne has slammed the Australian Federal Police (AFP) for its handling of anti-terrorist raids, saying the broader Islamic community will suffer a public backlash as a result.
Imam Ibrahim Omerdic says fringe Islamic preacher Sheikh Harun led a group of followers away from his Noble Park mosque about 10 years ago and formed the Al-Furqan Islamic Centre.
The centre was among 11 Melbourne properties raided by the AFP and Victoria Police yesterday.
Mr Omerdic has played down the significance of the raids, in which one 23-year-old man was arrested and items seized, including a memory stick police say contains violent extremist material.
The arrested man, from the southeast suburb of Officer, was taken to hospital today after complaining of abdominal pains.
He is expected to be charged with collecting or making documents likely to facilitate terrorist acts, an offence that carries a maximum penalty of 15 years' jail.
Man charged after Melbourne terror raids
A MELBOURNE man charged with collecting al-Qa'ida magazines allegedly held a copy which touted Sydney's Opera House as a target.
Police seized a number of items from the properties, including a USB memory stick containing violent extremist materials, computer equipment, registered firearms and fake firearms.
“The Muslim community will blame the federal police because they publicised this,” Mr Omerdic told reporters outside the Noble Park mosque.
“Maybe they find nothing, and from one stupid man, everyone will (be) poisoned. And now, especially humble women and children in schools will be pointed out.”
Asked about the items seized, he said, “Everyone has CDs, everyone has a mobile phone, recorders, everyone is using technology today.”
Mr Omerdic called on the AFP to apologise for its handling of the raids.
“The federal police, they should come out in front (of) camera ... they have to say they're sorry (for) what's going on, (and) next time if they're going to raid, to raid without journalists, without cameras,” he said.
“They're going to damage the minority Muslim community.”
The Al-Furqan centre was closed today, with all doors locked and phone calls going unanswered and messages unreturned.
Several nearby residents said they were surprised to learn of the raids, which saw police swoop on the centre in the early morning.
“I've lived here for almost 10 years and it's never been any trouble. You see a few dozen folks gather there every now and then, perhaps for prayer,” said a man who lives opposite the building, who declined to be named.
AAP
