Teen terrorist Abdul Numan Haider’s journey from suburban teen to jihad

VICTORIA Police are seeking to interview people seen in the company of teenage terrorist Abdul Numan Haider shortly before he attacked two anti-terrorism taskforce investigators and was shot dead at a suburban police station in Melbourne’s east.Victorian Chief Commissioner Ken Lay has today left open the possibility that Haider was not acting alone when he made the fatal decision to confront police on Tuesday night armed with two knives and carrying an Islamic State flag. “There is some information that he was certainly talking to other people around the time that he came to the police station,’’ Mr Lay told ABC Radio. “It is really unclear as to whether at the time or just before he had other people with him or not. It is certainly something we are pursuing.’’ Police believe Haider went to the police station with a clear intent to kill. However, Mr Lay dismissed as “outrageous’’ speculation reports carried by some news outlets that Haider intended to behead the police officers.

“I am not aware of any evidence that would suggestion this is correct,’’ he said. “I would suggest it is simple speculation. There is nothing, absolutely nothing that I am aware of that would suggest that was the intention.’’ The Coroner is expected to release Haider’s body to his family today for burial. Family members formally identified his body last night at about 10pm. The funeral is expected to take place on Friday to allow extended family to fly in from overseas. The Haider family are not ethnic Hazaras, as previously reported. Haider’s father, who is retired, is understood to have held a senior public service job in Afghanistan before the family migrated to Adelaide, then Melbourne. Abdul Numan Haider was the youngest of three brothers. One of his brothers, aged 23, is studying engineering. The other, aged 20, is studying pharmacy. Abdul Numan Haider completed high school ast year and was enrolled in a TAFE course.

Haider’s failed murder plot and his fatal shooting by police has divided Islamic leaders, with some refusing to condemn his actions as those of a terrorist. A bereaved friend, Mastoora Jan, declared Haider was not a terrorist. “He was an innocent little boy who was frustrated at seeing Muslims overseas being attacked,’’ he posted on Facebook. “He was sick of seeing people being killed, females being raped and innocents being tortured. “And to top it all off, Australia is sending troops to Afghanistan and now Iraq to add to the fire.’’ Mr Lay said Haider’s attack on police was a criminal act and not faith related. “I don’t characterise what we have seen in the last day or some of the stuff we are seeing on TV and the internet as religious violence,’’ Mr Lay said. “It is criminal behaviour driven by hate, driven by an intent to hurt the community. I don’t think it is helpful in any way, shape or form to characterise it as faith related.’’ Homicide investigators, who are working under the supervision of police internal affairs, will prepare a brief of evidence for the coroner.