Thursday March 6, 2025
A police vehicle is stationed outside Al-Bayt Al-Islaam Mosque in Sydney, Australia, as authorities respond to an online threat targeting the mosque. Security has been heightened following the arrest of a 16-year-old suspect linked to the threat, which referenced the 2019 Christchurch massacre. (CREDIT: ABC News)
SYDNEY, Australia (HOL) — Australian police have arrested a 16-year-old boy in western Australia after he allegedly made an online threat to attack Al-Bayt Al-Islaam Mosque in Sydney, drawing parallels to the 2019 Christchurch mosque massacre.
The threat, posted on social media, claimed that the teenager intended to carry out an attack mirroring the mass shooting at Al-Noor Mosque in Christchurch, New Zealand, where a white supremacist killed 51 worshippers during Friday prayers. Authorities described the threat as “alarming” and have since increased security measures at mosques nationwide.
Al-Bayt Al-Islaam, one of Sydney’s largest mosques, was recently inaugurated and had just begun hosting Ramadan prayers when the threat surfaced. The mosque’s administration confirmed that security had been significantly reinforced, particularly for evening Taraweeh prayers.
Journalist Ibrahim Omar Baafo told the BBC that worshippers were deeply unsettled.
“The language of the threat explicitly referenced Christchurch, which remains a traumatic event for Muslim communities worldwide,” he said.
The threat has drawn widespread condemnation from religious leaders and government officials. Mazhar Hadid OAM, president of Al-Bayt Al-Islaam, called it a serious concern and affirmed that the mosque is working closely with law enforcement to ensure the safety of worshippers.
The Australian Muslim Alliance and the National Council of Imams also expressed alarm, stating that threats targeting Muslim places of worship were unacceptable.
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese denounced the incident, calling it “shocking and completely unacceptable in Australia.
The impact of the threat has extended beyond Sydney. In Melbourne and Perth, mosque security has been tightened, with worshippers expressing unease.
Abdiqadir Abdirahman Moalim, a Perth resident, said the revelation that the suspect was from western Australia heightened concerns among the local Muslim community.
“When we heard that the suspect was in our region, it caused widespread anxiety. We have become extremely cautious, especially during Ramadan when families gather for prayer,” Moalim said.
He added that his family no longer attends the mosque together due to safety concerns.
“We now take turns instead of going together. It’s deeply unsettling,” he said.
The Christchurch attack remains a painful memory for many Muslims worldwide. Moalim, who previously lived in Christchurch, recalled the personal toll.
“I was a student of Sheikh Muse Nur Cawaale, one of the victims of the Christchurch attack. Remembering that day is painful,” he said.
The 2019 attack was one of the deadliest acts of Islamophobic violence in modern history. It prompted global condemnation and led to stricter gun control laws in New Zealand.
Authorities are investigating whether the teenager had any links to extremist ideologies. They have not disclosed further details about the suspect’s background but confirmed that the investigation remains ongoing.
- With files from the BBC Somali Service