Self-proclaimed Islamic sheik Junaid Thorne says he and his family have received death threats a day after taking to Facebook to defend slain terrorism suspect Numan Haider.
The 25-year-old Perth university student and known radical spoke with police at the city's Cannington Police Station on Thursday afternoon about the threats.
They came after his online comments about 18-year-old Numan Haider, who was shot dead after stabbing two police officers in Melbourne on Tuesday night.
In a post headlined "Official Statement", Mr Thorne questioned why "deadly force was immediately used" and said Haider was "murdered in cold blood".
"It's not the first time police have been attacked in Australia, and why is it linked to terrorism," Mr Thorne asked reporters outside the police station.
"Why was he shot, and in one shot killed straight away?"
In the post, Mr Thorne described Haider as "an average normal youth who spent his time hanging out with his friends, attending local mosques, and doing what every other youth does".
"The government will do its best to frame this young kid as a terrorist.
"He was nothing but an average teenager who once again, fell victim to police brutality and murder."
Mr Thorne did not address the fact Haider stabbed the officers, who are still recovering in hospital.
The post attracted hundreds of comments, most of them abusive.
Mr Thorne urged his community "to remain calm and reasonable, as we don't want to give the authorities another excuse to murder yet more of our youth".
WA Police Commissioner Karl O'Callaghan said Mr Thorne was being monitored.
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