MONDAY, MAY 18, 2015 $1.40 (inc GST) HERALDSUN.COM.AU WE’RE FOR VICTORY

GETTY IMAGES FOR VICTORY , Victory was on a high after its emphatic 3-0 win over FC in yesterday’s A-League grand final ... but Australian soccer chief Frank Lowy

GEORGE SALPIGTIDIS GEORGE hit rock bottom when he crashed off the podium. REPORTS: PAGES 6-7, SPORT Pictures: Terror teen Numan Haider’s friend dies in Middle East

EXCLUSIVE TOM MINEAR AND JAMES DOWLING

A MELBOURNE teen who was close mates with terrorist Numan Haider has died fighting with jihadis in the Middle East. Irfaan Hussein, 19, has been killed while fighting for Islamic State — with speculation either a bomb blast killed him or he was be- headed by extremists for attempting to return to Victoria. JIHADI It can also be revealed Hussein Irfaan Hussein and Numan Haider. was close friends with Numan Haid- er, 18, who was shot and killed after school in 2013, according to friends. stabbing two police officers in Hussein’s upset family have con- Endeavour Hills in September. firmed he has died, but declined to Hussein and Haider went to Lyn- comment further. dale Secondary College together. A friend said she lost contact Hussein’s spiral into extremism with him after they graduated and began when he started visiting the he and mates stopped associating controversial Al-Furqan Islamic with girls they went to school with. Centre with Haider after finishing CONTINUED PAGE 4 MATESPIES GO DOWN AS ... TIGES KEEP P3 LOVE LOCKS DREAM ALIVE SPORT HEARTBREAK V1 - MHSE01Z01MA 04 NEWS MONDAY, MAY 18, 2015 HERALDSUN.COM.AU School friends shocked as teens Numan Haider and Irfaan Hussein Another teen lost overseas FROM PAGE 1 Police have also alleged in JIHADI DUO court that Harun Causevic — charged over an alleged plot to murder police on Anzac Day LYNDALE SECONDARY COLLEGE 2013 LEAVERS — had the international phone ISMAIL EATHAN number of Hussein, who called himself Abu Sufyan Al Austra- NUMAN SAFI, 19 CRUSE, 19 li, in his room. It is alleged that NARRE EUMEMMERRING Hussein helped Australians HAIDER, 18 WARREN wanting to go to Iraq or Syria ENDEAVOUR Arrested in raids to connect with extremist re- HILLS Arrested in over the alleged cruiters in the Middle East. Operation Rising Anzac Day terror Those as Lyndale Second- Shot and killed counter-terror plot, then released ary College with Hussein and after stabbing raids relating to without charge. Haider also included Ismail two police alleged Anzac Understood to Safi and Eathan Cruse, who officers in Day terror have been upset were arrested during last Endeavour plot. Released after learning of month’s Operation Rising Hills in September without charge Hussein’s death counter-terror raids in Mel- bourne’s southeast. Safi and Cruse were both released without charge. AL FURQAN THE OTHER MATES Cruse’s father Glen said just after the raids that the youth had been distraught after see- ing graphic photos of a dead friend — believed to be Huss- ein — online. IRFAAN Some friends have said the teen was beheaded by IS as he HUSSEIN, 19 was seeking to escape the Mid- DANDENONG dle East, while others say he NORTH was killed in a bomb blast. One friend said she made Friend of Numan the shocking discovery that Haider. Died while Hussein had joined IS when he fighting with jihadis in posted a photo of himself NEIL HARUN SEVDET MEHRAN MOHAMED the Middle East, after wearing military gear and car- PRAKASH CAUSEVIC, 18 BESIM, 18 AZAMI, 19 ELOMAR joining Islamic State rying weapons in the desert. HAMPTON PARK HALLAM NARRE WARREN last year. Hussein “I’d never seen violence All those arrested in called himself Abu from any of those guys,” the last month’s Operation Police alleged they Attended Haider’s Arrested in Operation Sydney-born jihadi Sufyan Al Australi friend said. Rising raids are said by found Hussein’s funeral. Charged Rising counter-terror fighting in Syria who Hussein had deleted his police to have had ties overseas phone number with one count of raids. Charged with notoriously posed with social media accounts. But in a to Al-Furqan, run by in Causevic’s home conspiring to plan stockpiling more two severed heads. YouTube post in April 2014, Bosnian cleric Harun during Operation Rising a terror attack than 200 weapons, Police also found under a clip of British Muslims Mehicevic and also raids. Attended Haider’s after raids over including knives, Elomar’s overseas dancing to Pharrell Williams’ attended by Neil Prakash, funeral. Charged with Anzac Day plot knuckle dusters phone number in Happy, he wrote: “Here we are HARUN believed to be conspiring to kill police and Tasers Causevic’s home dancing whilst the rest of the ’s main IS and public on Anzac Day world is bleeding, fear Allah.’’ MEHICEVIC recruiter now in Syria The Herald Sun under- stands Hussein — whose father is Fijian — travelled to Turkey in September or Octo- ber before he was smuggled NEARLY 300 NABBED TRYING TO LEAVE THE COUNTRY over the border to Syria. Police have alleged they ALMOST 300 Australians The latest national groups and organised crime, Queensland teenager who found Hussein’s fighting nom travelling to the Middle East security briefing to the raising new fears that fled the country to join a de guerre scrawled on an have been hauled off planes Federal Government has also sophisticated weapons could terror group in Syria may be envelope in Causevic’s Hamp- in the past nine months in an revealed that 56 “coercive fall into the hands of used to lure other western ton Park home when he was escalation of counter- interviews” — where potential terrorists. youngsters. arrested last month. terrorism operations by spy witnesses are compelled to A total of 284 travellers Security agencies will Hussein grew up in Dande- and policing agencies. give evidence — had been had been offloaded from analyse social media links nong North and neighbours There are fears they could held in secret by a foreign flights leaving Australia over between Oliver Bridgeman remembered him as a “good be travelling to join Islamic fighters taskforce set up concerns that they could be (left) — a class captain and kid” from a “lovely family”. State to fight with people under the Australian Crime travelling to the Middle East rugby league fan — and [email protected] such as Mohamed Elomar Commission. to join IS. jihadist sympathisers, to Twitter: @tminear and Khaled Sharrouf, who The ACC is investigating It comes as security work out how the 18-year-old EDITORIAL, PAGE 20 slipped through the net. links between radicalised officials fear a blond-haired was radicalised. CANNIBALS IN Lenders stingy passing on cuts MORE TO AMY THE KITCHEN ONE in two lenders have SOPHIE ELSWORTH so many haven’t passed it on in THAN BOOZE A NIGERIAN restaurant has remained silent on whether full,’’ she said. “There’s no rea- THE director of a reportedly been shut down they will reduce interest rates Financial comparison site son why they can’t afford to — documentary about Amy for cooking human flesh and almost a fortnight after the finder.com.au’s spokeswoman we are seeing record profits Winehouse, premiering in serving it to customers. Reserve Bank of Australia’s Michelle Hutchison said it was from lenders.” Cannes, hopes the film will Police were tipped off by latest cut. unacceptable so many had Data from finder.com.au shatter the image of a locals who suspected horrific Others have been stingy, remained tongue-tied on rates shows Bankwest is among the hopeless junkie that has things were taking place passing on as little as 15 basis or had been tight and not most miserly of the bigger dogged the singer since her inside the kitchen. points of the 25-basis point passed on the full cut. banks, handing over a rates cut death. “A lot of people said: A police raid found human official drop. “I think it’s really disap- of just 0.17 percentage points. ‘Why do you want to make a heads still dripping with And nine lenders are not pointing that we have seen so A spokesman said the bank film about a junkie?’ ” Asif blood in plastic bags. actually reducing their rates many lenders that haven’t wanted to level out the benefits Kapadia said. Ten people were arrested until June — 27 days after the announced interest rate cuts for borrowers and savers. “That’s exactly why I in connection to the crimes. RBA’s action. yet, and of the ones that have, MONEYSAVER HQ, PAGE 23 Amy Winehouse needed to make the film.”

MHSE01Z01MA - V1 HERALDSUN.COM.AU MONDAY, MAY 18, 2015 NEWS 05 die fighting for Islamic State believing they are martyrs for the cause MATES TO END

LYNDALE SECONDARY COLLEGE 2013 LEAVERS “THEY were normal at TOM MINEAR AND ISMAIL EATHAN the end of year 12.” JAMES DOWLING One close friend of NUMAN SAFI, 19 CRUSE, 19 teens Numan Haider He died in the past few NARRE EUMEMMERRING and Irfaan Hussein months. HAIDER, 18 WARREN shook her head in dis- Hussein and Haider had ENDEAVOUR Arrested in raids belief as she remem- been close mates at Lyndale HILLS Arrested in over the alleged bered the larrikin pair. with Ismail Safi and Eathan Operation Rising Anzac Day terror Just 18 months later, Cruse, who were arrested last Shot and killed counter-terror plot, then released the two close mates from month in counter-terror raids after stabbing raids relating to without charge. Lyndale Secondary Col- to stop an alleged plot to kill two police alleged Anzac Understood to lege are dead — killed police on Anzac Day. officers in Day terror have been upset acting in the name of the Those two were released Endeavour plot. Released after learning of murderous Islamic State. without charge. Hills in September without charge Hussein’s death Haider was said to be Former classmates last the clown of the class of week told the Herald Sun the 2013 at the Dandenong gang were not particularly North high school. vocal about their religion at AL FURQAN THE OTHER MATES Hussein was almost school, although Hussein and always by his side, a Haider were apparently instru- sport-loving teen popular mental in Cruse’s conversion with the girls. to Islam. “They were good Hussein had asked girls he kids,” a friend told the dated if they would be willing IRFAAN Herald Sun. to convert, it was said. “Why would they Haider’s long-term girl- HUSSEIN, 19 think murdering people is friend did convert but their DANDENONG OK?” relationship soured in the NORTH The pair’s spiral into weeks before his death. extremism became appar- Friends had claimed Haider Friend of Numan ent to many after Haider applied for a passport so he Haider. Died while posted fiery Facebook could travel to Afghanistan fighting with jihadis in rants and pictures of him- and find a wife in his parents’ NEIL HARUN SEVDET MEHRAN MOHAMED the Middle East, after self in military gear hold- homeland. PRAKASH CAUSEVIC, 18 BESIM, 18 AZAMI, 19 ELOMAR joining Islamic State ing an IS flag. Haider and others were HAMPTON PARK HALLAM NARRE WARREN last year. Hussein After graduating, the sometimes spotted handing All those arrested in called himself Abu group had started visiting out Islamic flyers at Dande- last month’s Operation Police alleged they Attended Haider’s Arrested in Operation Sydney-born jihadi Sufyan Al Australi the controversial Al-Fur- nong Plaza, where Haider Rising raids are said by found Hussein’s funeral. Charged Rising counter-terror fighting in Syria who qan Islamic Centre and brandished an IS flag shortly police to have had ties overseas phone number with one count of raids. Charged with notoriously posed with tried to convince others to before his death. to Al-Furqan, run by in Causevic’s home conspiring to plan stockpiling more two severed heads. pray with them. Police continue to investi- Bosnian cleric Harun during Operation Rising a terror attack than 200 weapons, Police also found The boys blocked many gate Haider and Hussein’s Mehicevic and also raids. Attended Haider’s after raids over including knives, Elomar’s overseas of the girls they went to links to Harun Causevic and attended by Neil Prakash, funeral. Charged with Anzac Day plot knuckle dusters phone number in school with on Facebook Sevdet Besim, 18-year-olds HARUN believed to be conspiring to kill police and Tasers Causevic’s home and Hussein once ignored charged with conspiring to kill Australia’s main IS and public on Anzac Day a friend who tried to greet him police on Anzac Day. MEHICEVIC recruiter now in Syria with a kiss on the cheek. Both went to Haider’s It seemed like just weeks funeral and Hussein’s phone since Haider had been fooling number was allegedly found at around with a fake beard at Causevic’s home. school and “pretending” to be a Word about Hussein’s terrorist. death filtered back to Mel- But it became extremely bourne in March — weeks serious, very rapidly. before Safi, Cruse, Causevic, “He’s going to get himself Besim and their associate, killed,” one girl told a friend in Mehran Azami, were arrested. September. “I couldn’t believe it,” one Two days later, Haider was friend said. “It gave me goose- dead, shot by police after stab- bumps.” bing two counter-terrorism Lyndale Secondary College officers in Endeavour Hills. principal Mark Moir said the About the same time, Huss- school taught teenagers to em- ein was making his way to the brace “quintessentially Austra- Lyndale Secondary College, where Middle East to join IS, a deci- lian values of diversity, Numan Haider and Irfaan Hussein sion that would also seal tolerance and respect”. finished their schooling. his fate. [email protected] Two missing boys found safe ICE KING PUTIN LEADS WAY RUSSIAN President The game was played in TWO north Queensland boys land Police Service posted on when they were last seen and Vladimir Putin has played in Sochi, the city that hosted the missing overnight in bushland Facebook. Timmy did not have a shirt. an exhibition hockey game 2014 Winter Olympics, and were found safe yesterday. “While a detailed medical SES crews, rescue helicop- and scored one goal after concluded shortly before Search crews found Nicho- examination needs to be con- ters and police had been another on assists from Russia played the US in a las Baxter, 6, wandering ducted, it would appear Nicho- searching since Saturday after- retired NHL players. semi-final of the ice hockey through dense bushland at Mt las is reasonably unharmed noon. Soldiers from a nearby Mr Putin’s team won 18-6, world championships. Stuart near Townsville about from his ordeal, although this defence base joined the search with eight of those goals During his 15 years as 2pm. is yet to be confirmed,” the yesterday morning. made by the 62-year-old Russia’s leader, Mr Putin has Shortly afterwards, his statement read. A scooter and a tricycle President, most of them on frequently displayed his neighbour, five-year-old “Nicholas remains with were found about 8.30pm on assists from NHL stars Pavel athletic skills, most notably in Timmy Carter, was also found. search crews while efforts are Saturday on a dirt track near Bure and Valeri Kamensky. judo and swimming. “Great News! Five-year-old under way to retrieve him from bushland, leading police to be- Three of the remaining He took up hockey in Timmy Carter has also been Mt Stuart.” lieve the boys wandered off goals were scored by Russia’s recent years to promote the found on Mt Stuart,” Queens- Neither boy had shoes on into thick scrub and got lost. President Putin Defence Minister. sport.

V1 - MHSE01Z01MA NEW ANZAC JUST $3 WITH TODAY’S COIN TODAY PAPER TOKEN & DETAILS: P2 Coins are available at participating newsagents while stocks last

MONDAY, APRIL 20, 2015 $1.40 (inc GST) HERALDSUN.COM.AU WE’RE FOR VICTORIA

ALLEGED TERROR PLOTTERS CLOSE TO COP ATTACKER HAIDER LEGACY

OFTWO alleged ringleaders of the Anzac Day HATE TOM MINEAR, JAMES DOWLING terror plot attended the funeral of teen ter- AND ALEKS DEVIC rorist Numan Haider and were his close friends. Mr Besim, 18, has been charged with con- In a Victorian first, one of the pair is being spiracy to commit a terror attack. held in jail under tough anti-terror laws, Mr Besim and the teen on the PDO despite not being charged. attended the funeral of Haider, who was shot The teen is being grilled over his involve- dead last year after stabbing two police offi- ment in the alleged plot to attack police and cers at a Melbourne police station after he the public with swords and knives. planned an Islamic State- Police could hold him for up to 14 days style attack. Mr Besim’s after applying for the Preventive Detention social media activity Order, designed to be used if there is a per- also became dramati- ceived imminent terror threat. cally more radical The Herald Sun can reveal the 18-year- after Haider’s death old, whose identity is suppressed under the in September. tough laws, revels in showing off his abs to “We all got more his social media followers among other radical then,’’ one of photos. the teenager’s friends The teen, who lists slain gangster rapper said. Tupac as a favourite artist, applied for a CONTINUED PAGE 4 passport only last week. Both he and alleged co-ringleader Sevdet Ramadan Besim frequented the controver- sial Islamic group, Al-Furqan. And the father of the teen terror suspect, who cannot be named, admitted his family had close ties with the Al-Furqan’s firebrand cleric Harun Mehicevic. Numan Haider (left) and (above) Sevdet Ramadan Besim.

WONDER DRUG WIN P9 CATS CLAW BACK SPORT V1 - MHSE01Z02MA 04 MONDAY, APRIL 20, 2015 HERALDSUN.COM.AU ANZAC TERROR PLOT

SEVDET RAMADAN BESIM DEAD TEEN’S 18, Hallam Charged with conspiracy to HATE LEGACY commit terrorist acts. Remanded in custody REVEALED until Friday.

FROM PAGE 1 “It was the moment we realised even here we are not safe.” His family went to ground yesterday but one man who knew him insisted Mr Besim was a “good kid”. Three other teens were arrested in the dawn raids on Saturday, but were released. One of those, Aboriginal Eathan Cruse, 19, who attended Lyndale Secondary College, can also be revealed to be the schoolmate of a junior jihadi recently killed fighting in Iraq and Syria. A defiant Mr Cruse yesterday told media that he and Haider had slept at each others’ homes. “He was a good guy,” Mr Cruse said. Meanwhile, the father of the teenager locked up on the PDO, said he would be shocked if his boy was involved in terrorism and wanted him to come home. “I believe my (son) doesn’t do nothing. I believe, I don’t know 100 per cent,” his father said. “But personally, I know I am teaching him to be a good man. I believe he don’t do nothing bad.” Premier Daniel Andrews yesterday promised to pour in extra cash and resources to understand how youths were being radicalised. He also vowed there would be a boosted security presence on Anzac Day, especially at the dawn service and AFL. About 200 Australian Federal Police and Victoria Police officers swooped across several homes in Melbourne’s southeast before dawn on Saturday and arrested the five men amid concerns of an alleged terror strike. Police alleged the men were planing to kill authorities and attack the public with knives and swords. It is the first time a PDO has been used in Victoria since they were introduced in the aftermath of the bombings in 2005. [email protected] EDITORIAL, PAGE 20 Man says police kicked him while in handcuffs

A YOUNG man arrested in a TOM MINEAR, know if they’re gonna fix my the kitchen,” Anja said. “They terrifying experience ever,” Professional Standards pre-dawn raid claims he was ALEKS DEVIC AND window, I don’t know if flogged him pretty bad be- she said. “There was no rea- Command. assaulted by police, with his JAMES DOWLING they’re going to apologise to cause there was a pool of son why they got treated like Sevdet Ramadan Besim, 18, mother saying he got a my family… I’d like an blood on the floor.” this ... My son wasn’t charged was charged with conspiracy “flogging”. “He grabs me, handcuffs apology,” Mr Cruse said. Her son gave a statement or anything. What was the to commit terror acts. Eathan Cruse, 19, had just me and says ‘what’s your His mum, Anja, who asked to police and was released reason? All that for question- His driving school instruc- finished watching a movie name?’ I said: ‘Eathan.’ He that her surname not be pub- without charge on Saturday ing? It’s not on.” tor Samson Demissie said he with his family at their Eum- said, ‘yep, that’s the one’. He lished, said that armed officers afternoon. A Victoria Police spokes- was in complete shock when emmerring home soon after kicks me right across the face stormed through the home, Anja said her son was woman said a complaint had he saw his former student had 3am on Saturday when police as my hands were cuffed. restraining her other children “pretty shaken up and badly been received regarding the been arrested. “He was very smashed through the doors “I don’t know if they’re as they looked for her son. bruised all over”. treatment of one of the men humble and was a very good and windows. gonna fix my door, I don’t “They dragged him into “It was just the most arrested and it was referred to kid,” Mr Demissie said.

MHSE01Z01MA - V2