‘Unspeakable Tragedy’: Inquest into Brutal Killing of Sydney Police Accountant Curtis Cheng Reveals Chilling Details of 15-Year-Old Gunman’s Radicalisation
- A decade on, the inquest into the shooting of Curtis Cheng, 58, outside NSW Police headquarters in Parramatta has begun, examining the events leading up to the tragic incident.
- Farhad Jabar, the 15-year-old gunman, was known to NSW Joint Counter Terrorism Team investigators prior to the incident, but was not under surveillance.
- The inquest will delve into the question of radicalisation, including what signs or “indicia of becoming radicalised” Jabar displayed, and whether authorities could have intervened earlier.
The inquest into the senseless killing of Sydney police accountant Curtis Cheng has finally commenced, more than a decade after the tragic event. On October 2, 2015, Cheng, a devoted father of two, was shot at close range as he left the NSW Police Force headquarters in Parramatta.
The gunman, 15-year-old Farhad Jabar, was subsequently shot dead by a special constable. The inquest, led by Deputy State Coroner Derek Lee, aims to uncover the circumstances surrounding the deaths and the police investigations prior to the incident.
Counsel Assisting Rob Ranken SC described Cheng as a hard-working father who was brutally killed by someone under the sway of a violent extremist ideology.
“The events that resulted in the deaths … were shocking and understandably caused serious disquiet in our community,” he said during an opening address.
The inquest will examine the events leading up to the shooting, including the radicalisation of Jabar and the actions of authorities in the lead-up to the tragedy.
Four men have previously been convicted of terrorism-related offences in relation to their roles in the shooting and are currently serving prison sentences.
The inquest will investigate whether authorities could have done more to prevent the tragedy, including whether they adequately assessed the risks posed by Jabar and his associates.
The court will also consider what information was available to NSW and federal authorities about Jabar and his sister prior to the shooting.
Witness Mark Henney, a former chief inspector with NSW Police, told the coroner that investigators had extensive direct and indirect surveillance on some of the men involved in the shooting, but had limited knowledge of Jabar.
“Probably very little,” he replied when asked what investigators knew about Jabar. The inquest will also examine community-based programs to combat radicalisation and extremism, and whether more could have been done to prevent Jabar’s radicalisation.
Analysis: What This Means for Australia
The inquest into the killing of Curtis Cheng raises serious concerns about the effectiveness of Australia’s counter-terrorism measures.
The fact that Jabar was able to radicalise and carry out a terrorist attack at just 15 years old highlights the need for more robust programs to prevent radicalisation and support vulnerable individuals.
Security analysts say that the case highlights the challenges of identifying and preventing radicalisation, particularly among young people.
Law enforcement insiders warn that the case also raises questions about the adequacy of intelligence gathering and sharing between agencies. The fact that Jabar was not under surveillance despite being known to investigators raises concerns about the effectiveness of Australia’s counter-terrorism efforts.
Industry observers believe that the inquest will have significant implications for Australia’s counter-terrorism strategy, highlighting the need for more effective community-based programs and greater cooperation between agencies.
The case also underscores the importance of addressing the root causes of radicalisation, including social isolation and extremist ideologies.
As the inquest continues, the family of Curtis Cheng will be seeking answers about the events leading up to his tragic death. His son, Alpha, said that the family hopes the inquest will result in necessary recommendations to prevent similar tragedies from occurring in the future.
“We do our absolute best to try to move forward and we hope that this process will bring a bit more closure to us,” he said.
