Melbourne shooting: Abdul Numan Haider researched Tony Abbott's travel plans

Updated

The 18-year-old who was shot dead in Melbourne after stabbing two anti-terrorism officers was researching Prime Minister Tony Abbott's travel plans, the ABC understands.

Abdul Numan Haider was a "person of interest" who police had been investigating for three months before the incident on Tuesday night outside the Endeavour Hills police station.

The ABC understands Haider did not make a direct threat against the Prime Minister, but did make specific inquiries about Mr Abbott's plans to visit Melbourne.

But as more details emerge about why Haider - whom the ABC understands had planned a trip to Iraq and Syria - was the focus of a counter-terrorism investigation, those close to the teenager have painted a different picture.

Mohamed Ibrahim roomed with Haider on a Muslim youth camp last year and described him as gentle and quiet and a man who was not aggressive or radical.

"He was a gentle, soft spoken young boy and when I heard the report yesterday about a man who had been shot - when I actually found out he was Numan - I was absolutely shocked," he told the ABC's PM program.

"There were no hints that he was part of a group, there were no signs that he was someone we should be worried about."

He said it was alarming how quickly his friend changed.

"I think him, from going to being an inquisitive young lad to being someone who was drawn towards these kind of ideas, it's something we need to take seriously," he said.

"I think [it is] something that we need to further understand because obviously we don't."

Haider, whose family are from Afghanistan, had been associated with the radical Islamic group called Al-Furqan.

It is understood he had recently moved away from the group.

Last week, responding to the terror raids in Sydney and Brisbane, Haider took to Facebook, holding up an Islamic flag that has been appropriated by Islamic State (IS) extremists.

One post read: "The main message I'm sending with these statuses and photos is to the dogs AFP and ASIO who are declaring war on Islam and Muslims."

But his friends said Haider was more of a fanboy who got in with the wrong crowd and had no genuine links to IS.

Government sources have also said police were investigating whether Haider's attack was a direct response to a fatwa that was issued earlier this week.

The propaganda statement from IS included a reference to slaughter with a knife.

Federal Member for the seat of Holt in Melbourne south-east, Anthony Byrne, rejected suggestions the area had a problem with radicalised youth.

"This individual who has been identified by the authorities - and I've received briefings today on this particular individual - is certainly the first time that this has come across my radar," he said.

"It's early days in terms of really disseminating what happened, who this young man was talking to and how this event came about," he said.

He also criticised Senator Cory Bernardi, who wants a ban on burqas and other facial coverings and has requested the Parliamentary Speaker consider enforcing restrictions for anyone entering Parliament.

"A comment made by a senator who I didn't know was an expert on security, talking about burqas - ill-informed comments - [doesn't] add to either the investigations that are taking place or the very community harmony that we need in my area at this point in time."

Police would not publically comment on the threats Haider made but Victorian Chief Police Commissioner Ken Lay did say authorities had increasing concerns about the 18-year-old.

"What we saw did cause some concerns which resulted in us taking some interest in him," he said.

"It's true to say late last week we learned of some behaviours that were causing us significant concern and our interest was greatly heightened."

Topics: crime, federal-parliament, federal-government, terrorism, law-crime-and-justice, police, endeavour-hills-3802

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