NSW Premier Chris Minns slams social media giant X as it vows to fight video removal push

NSW Premier Chris Minns has slammed social media giant X after it vowed to fight a push to remove videos of the Wakeley church stabbing.

Premier Chris Minns has slammed social media giant X after it vowed to fight a push to remove videos of the Wakeley church stabbing.

Speaking to reporters five days after the city’s first terror attack since 2017, the premier called on communities not to listen to rumours on social media.

“Yeah, look, I’m shocked but I’m not surprised. This is exactly as I expect from X or Twitter or whatever, whatever you want to call it,” he said

“A disregard for the information that they pump into our communities, lies and rumors spreading like wildfire and then when things go wrong they throw their hands up in the air and they’re not prepared to do anything about it.

“We’ve had enough, Sydney has had enough.”

NSW Premier Chris Minns met with religious leaders including Maronite Eparchy of Australia Bishop, Antoine-Charbel Tarabay on Thursday. Picture: Jonathan Ng/ NCA NewsWire

It comes as billionaire X owner Elon Musk accused the country’s E Safety Commissioner of censorship and said the platform would fight orders to remove graphic content within 24 hours in court.

The statement from the company said it complied with the directive by commissioner Julie Inman Grant to remove “certain posts”.

“Think about the young police officers who to have to go into harm’s way to calm down the riot based on a rumour already which means that their job is virtually it’s next to impossible,” Mr Minns said.

SOCIAL MEDIA IS FUELLING COMMUNITY ALARM IN WAKE OF STABBING

A senior Islamic leader has called for calm claiming that Muslim women in the city fear being targeted after the first terror attack in Sydney since 2017.

Speaking at a lunchtime prayer outside Lakemba Mosque, Lebanese Muslim Association secretary Gamel Kheir said their female staff were now scared to come to work.

The service was aimed at restoring calm among the Muslim community in western Sydney in the wake of a church stabbing in Fairfield this week that sparked a riot.

Lakemba Mosque prayers in the wake of the charge against a 16-year-old who attacked a bishop in western Sydney. Picture Jeremy Piper

“The real fear is one of targeting women who are identifiable through their headscarf walking through the streets or shopping centres,” he said.

“For the moment, they’re scared to do that.

“The greater issue for us is really the social media has to be somehow held accountable because there are unsubstantiated threats coming around which ultimately fuel that sense of alarm and anxiety within the communities.”

Hundreds gathered at the Lakemba Mosque. Picture Jeremy Piper

Inside the mosque a sombre service began just after 12pm, with hundreds packing inside and many barely able to find space.

Referring to the events of Tuesday night, a preacher leading the prayer spoke in length in Arabic urging for peace.

It came after a teenage boy was charged with stabbing priest Mar Mari Emmanuel during a service in what police allege is a religiously motivated attack.

“In recent events you know a person may feel alarmed but at the end of the day any issue that arises should be left to the authorities,” he said.

”And whatever the actions of particular individuals within the Islamic community. This is reflected only on that person and it shouldn’t be dragged on to the rest of the community.”

“Continue to maintain the peace and security of this wonderful country Australia, and that he always allowed us to live in peaceful coexistence.”

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