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Granville Boys High School: Former student ‘Abu Ahmad’ makes jihadi salute in Facebook post

A STUDENT at Granville Boys High School posted pictures of himself making a jihadi salute, while others are circulating a mock school “starter pack”.

"Abu Ahmad", a former student of Granville Boys High student from Sydney's west who has encouraged friends to join him in Islamic State, holds a heavy machine gun in a photo posted to Facebook in October 2014.

A STUDENT at Granville Boys High School recently posted pictures of himself making a jihadi salute, while others are circulating a mock school “starter pack” featuring a knife and pictures of police.

Police have been called a number of times to break up fights at the school, where the alumni include a Syrian IS fighter and an alleged radical in jail facing terror charges.

Last year the school held a knife amnesty amid claims students were trading blades on the grounds.

Facebook post ... ‘Abu Ahmad’, a former student of Granville Boys High School.
Facebook post ... ‘Abu Ahmad’, a former student of Granville Boys High School.

The mock poster is being posted on social media, while one student still at the school has posted images of himself making a jihadi salute with an Islamic flag tied around his mouth alongside the caption “F … what yous (sic) say.” His Facebook page carries an image of what appears to be a jacket with the school’s name with a knife on it.

A former student known as “Abu Ahmad” was a fighter in Syria and another old boy is in prison facing terror charges.

Police have been called to the school repeatedly in the past year, including to break up a fight between two students in December.

In October, police were called after a student allegedly verbally abused and pushed a teacher, however no charges were laid when the teacher allegedly refused to make a formal complaint.

Police attended the school in September after a triple-0 caller ­reported a bag of knives had been found on the premises, but officers were unable to locate any weapons.

A NSW Police spokesman said he could not comment on ­matters before the court, but said monitoring social media ­accounts formed “a large and crucial part of the work done by investigators from the counter-terrorism command”.

“We work closely with the Education Department to ensure that all relevant information is acted on,” the spokesman said.

“The school community and public in general is vital to this ­process and we urge them to report all extremist-style behaviour.”

An Education Department spokesman said the state government was implementing a range of initiatives to counter violent ­extremism. He said additional training was being provided to counsellors and specialist support teams would work with schools.

A Facebook post of a Granville Boys High School jacket and a knife.
A Facebook post of a Granville Boys High School jacket and a knife.

Original URL: https://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/news/nsw/granville-boys-high-school-former-student-abu-ahmad-makes-jihadi-salute-in-facebook-post/news-story/2aa00b6f1aed17969acbb0e9dfa901a3