A controversial Islamic centre attended by an Islamic State fighter and several suspected terrorists in Springvale South has closed down.
The Al-Furqan Islamic Information Centre, run by firebrand cleric Harun Mehicevic, has announced that it will close its doors immediately.
“We believe that given the constant harassment, pressure and false accusations levelled against the centre — particularly by media and politicians — this is the best course of action,” the centre said in a statement.
The statement said its members and the “broader Muslim community” was “often implicated in these insidious campaigns”.
Neighbours told the Herald Sun that about eight or nine men arrived at the shop last night and cleared the building.
They carried furniture, books and other belongings from the shop for a couple of hours before leaving in vans at 11pm.
The men even ripped off the Al-Furqan signs on the roof of the building.
The shop was quiet this morning but one man who drove past yelled at reporters gathered outside.
“Stop harassing people,” he yelled.
“Get the f*** out of here.”
It comes as Mehicevic was seen visiting the home of a teenager now accused of being involved in a chilling Anzac Day terrorist plot.
The Herald Sun understands Mehicevic was seen last year with an 18-year-old who was arrested during Saturday’s anti-terrorist raids at a relative’s home in Narre Warren.
Mr Mehicevic denied Al-Furqan was linked to Saturday’s raids.
But several of the arrested teens were believed to have visited and prayed at his Springvale South bookshop.
Mr Mehicevic drove off yesterday without comment when approached by the Herald Sun.
The Herald Sun can also reveal the hate preacher became an Australian citizen in 1996, when it was common to swear an oath of allegiance.
More than a decade later Mr Mehicevic was ranting at followers not to make a pledge to the “Kuffar” (unbeliever) government of Australia.
In a 40-minute recorded lecture the preacher said “Australian values” were not the values of Muslims.
Mr Mehicevic’s 18-year-old follower, who was released from custody on Saturday, stayed at the Narre Warren home irregularly but was often visited there by friends.
Sevdet Besim, 18, who has been charged with conspiring to commit terrorist acts, used to pick him up on Saturdays and take him out for several hours.
It’s believed Eathan Cruse, 19, also visited the home.
Documents with Mr Cruse’s details were visible in a car parked at the Narre Warren address yesterday, along with a beginner’s guide to Islam.
Another vehicle listed on a warrant for Saturday’s raids had also been spotted outside the property occasionally.
Mr Besim and another charged man, 18-year-old Harun Causevic, are alleged to have plotted to attack police.
Acting Chief Commissioner Tim Cartwright said police were now a greater target of extremism than ever.
“The threat level against police has gone up,” Mr Cartwright said.
“A lot of the dialogue we see is about attacking police, because they are a symbol of authority.
“The death of Numan Haider (who was shot dead as he attacked police last September) was part of that, but it was happening before,” he said.
The Herald Sun has reported concerns that other Islamic State sympathisers could be planning attacks against officers in Melbourne.
“Our people do know that a cancellation of a passport is a risk time for us,” he said.
“We need to assess it and make a call. It is one of the risk factors we take into account.”