A Muslim community leader in Perth is calling for calm in the wake of a drive-by shooting at a mosque in Mirrabooka on Friday night.Police are investigating an incident in which a shot was fired through the window of the building, narrowly missing women and children. The Western Australian Security Investigation Group, ASIO and the Australian Federal Police are also investigating.
Islamic leader Rahim Ghauri says there has been an increase in attacks on mosques over the past few years. He says this is the first time a shot has been fired while people were worshipping. "This is an indication that there are people who are ready to go to this extent, which is sad for our society, which is sad as Australians because it means are we going to draw daggers onto each other and convert this lovely country into [a] battlefield?" he said.
The mosque's Sheikh Muhammad Agherdien says the congregation is shocked. "We've had windows shattered, we've had verbal abuse by cars passing and graffiti, but this is the first time that such a callous act to such an extent has occurred in the history of this mosque," he said.