A former Sydney Street Dawah preacher and friend of senior Islamic State leader Mohammad Ali Baryalei has praised slain terror suspect Numan Haider as the “first Shaheed” or martyr on Australia soil.
Abdul Salam Mahmoud, who travelled to Syria earlier this year to conduct humanitarian work, congratulated “the Muslims in Australia” on his Facebook page.
The sick message came as the body of the 18-year-old, shot after attacking counter-terror police with a knife, was believed to have been taken to a Melbourne mosque amid emotional scenes and clashes with media photographers.
Mr Mahmoud, who also goes by the names of Yassin Ali and Abu Hamza al-Sudani, had earlier issued a call to arms for Muslims following the US-led air raids this week.
“Our silence is betrayal and our lack of action is cowardice,” he wrote.
“How many more sisters should we wait to be abused, how many more lands do we want to see bombed, how many more children do you want to hear cry, how many more believers do you want witness their murder.
“Retaliation is a must, it’s compulsory.”
Mr Mahmoud, who lives in the rebel-controlled coastal town of Latakia, remains in contact with family in Australia and discussed last week’s raids in Sydney with friends.
He has also posted Street Dawah videos on YouTube showing him trying to convert Sydneysiders alongside wanted terrorist Baryalei, and Yusuf Ali, killed with his wife Amira fighting for al-Qaeda linked Jabhat al-Nusra.
Despite his ties to Baryalei, who he recently described as a leader and someone who was “outspoken”, Mr Mahmoud has said he is not part of any militant “group”.