AFP frees one of the ‘bomb 4’

Another had ‘never been to mosque’

ONE of the men taken into custody during the weekend anti-terror raids in Sydney has been released without charge.

A 50-year-old man was released last night, the Australian Federal Police said.

Three others remain in custody.

The remaining three suspects will stay in detention under special powers that allow police to hold them for up to a week.

“This investigation remains ongoing, and further information will be provided at an appropriate time,” the statement said.

One of those still being questioned, Khaled Merhi, has been described as “always smiling” and said to have “never been to a mosque in his life”.

Mr Merhi was taken into police custody during the anti-terror raid over the weekend along with former butcher Khaled Khayat, 50. One other man is also being held without charge.

Mr Merhi’s boss told The Daily Telegraph the former van driver had been behaving erratically in the days leading up to his arrest, having allegedly racked up gambling debts.

“He kept not turning up so I told him I wasn’t interested in employing him any more,” his employer said.

“He was always smiling and laughing, you’d never think he was capable of anything to do with terrorists.”

One of the unnamed men in custody is believed to be related to Mr Merhi.

They are also reportedly related to Australian-born Islamic State fighter Ahmed Merhi.

Overnight, Khaled Merhi’s father Omar, 76, broke his silence to say his son had “never been to a mosque in his life” and it was “bullsh*t that he wanted to blow up a plane”.

“He works hard for his child and his girlfriend, who was always asking him for money, $150 here and there for jewellery and clothes, it was never enough, it felt like he was working to buy everything for her,” he said.

“It should be noted that the presumption of innocence applies to these persons,” AFP said.