THE COURIER MAIL (BRISBANE) 1 0CT - BRISBANE ISLAMIC FESTIVAL CANCELLED

ISLAMIC leaders have called on Muslim parents to “dob in” their own children if they suspected they were becoming extremists, as the Australian military prepares to join Middle East bombing raids as early as Sunday. The call came as a Muslim family festival on Brisbane’s southside was cancelled due to escalating safety concerns. And as anti-terror raids were held across Melbourne. Also yesterday, Queensland’s police commissioner revealed his officers were already acting on “intelligence’’ received on potential threats. Brisbane Muslim community activist and spokeswoman Yasmin Khan urged Muslims to come forward with information. “Although it isn’t the Australian way to dob-in other people, this is all about protecting our community,’’ Ms Khan said. “You can’t rely on the person who might have been or is being radicalised to come forward to authorities, so it’s up to parents to do it. “Every parent needs to be aware of what their children are watching online, or if they are possibly doing something wrong. They need to be vigilant and report this to police because it could be too late afterwards.” Police Commissioner Ian Stewart said members of the Muslim community had come forward with “some really factual information”. “They are telling us things they believe are important and raise concerns for them. It’s all intelligence,’’ he said. “We have seen a definite increase in the number of reports through the national security hotline, CrimeStoppers, and Policelink and this has been specifically related to the situation we find ourselves in, since the arrests started a couple of weeks ago.” Mr Stewart, who refused to elaborate on what the intelligence specifically related to, said he was “very grateful for the Muslim community reaching out to us”. Mr Stewart said police had been reinforcing the message within the Muslim community that they needed to be “aware and vigilant”. Commissioner Stewart also urged Muslims to report details of Islamophobic attacks, including graffiti at mosques, verbal abuse and physical threats. “There is a real risk here that this could escalate very quickly and we need to do everything we can to stop that,” he said. A spokesman for the organising committee behind the Islamic Society of Algester’s Eid al-Adha festival said: “It’s a shame that we now have to direct people to celebrate elsewhere.” “We don’t think anything will happen but we cannot afford to have even one fight between just two boys,” he said. It is the first time in more than a decade the event has had to be scrapped. Meanwhile, senior military brass are believed to be preparing a possible October 5 mission start date, with RAAF super hornets and other air support combat on standby for deployment into Iraq. LINK: http://www.couriermail.com.au/news/queensland/muslim-parents-urged-to-dob-in-children-if-suspect-they-may-become-extremists-as-brisbane-islamic-festival-cancelled/story-fnihsrf2-1227075804547