Terror-plot investigators who wrongfully arrested Sri Lankan student now question Aussie cricketers’ brother
The brother of Australian cricketer Usman Khawaja has reportedly been questioned by police as part of an counter-terrorism investigation probing a ‘hit list’ found in a university notebook.
Officers raided the home where Arsalan Khawaja lives with his parents in Westmead, Sydney’s west, last week as police continued their search for the person responsible for writing the list.
Arsalan has not been arrested or charged, according to The Daily Telegraph.
The raid came as charges against the notebook’s owner Mohamed Nizamdeen were dropped on Friday, with police admitting he likely did not write the threats.
Mr Nizamdeen had been charged with creating a document in connection with preparing for a terrorist act.
The 25-year-old spent four weeks in Goulburn’s supermax prison and is planning to take legal action against police.
Mr Nizamdeen was released on bail last month after the Director of Public Prosecutions solicitor Soo Choi conceded the evidence contained in the notebook was weak and that no extremist material was found in the notebook or any of his other belongings.
The notebook had allegedly been discovered in a drawer in Mr Nizamdeen’s desk at the University of New South Wales, where he worked.
Arsalan has also worked at the
same university, according to the Daily Telegraph.
Mr Nizamdeen’s arrest and time in jail sparked protests in his Sri Lankan hometown of Colombo, while an online petition attracted more than 16,000 signatures.
Arsalan is the older brother of Usman, who lives in Brisbane.
Usman Khawaja is not connected in any way to the counter-terror investigation.
Mr Nizamdeen’s arrest and time in jail sparked protests in his Sri Lankan hometown of Colombo, while an online petition attracted more than 16,000 signatures