Convicted killer Masood Atai sets up Facebook page to contact ISIS fighters from inside jail

Masood Atai, a convicted killer serving time at a maximum security prison in Australia, has reportedly set up a Facebook account inviting others to support the Islamic State terrorists in Syria.

The Herald Sun reports that Atai, a 24-year-old Afghan refugee who was convicted for killing a stranger at the latter's home in Sydney in 2010, apparently created a page from inside the Goulburn Supermax Prison. His profile picture features a selfie of him wearing a beard and his connections include the likes of controversial hate preacher Junaid Thorne. The account also apparently has fans, with some friends posting messages such as "my brother I miss all those years Inshallah you will be home soon." Some of his extremist posts also mock mosques, claiming that they criticise the Islamic State based on the "kuffar," or non-believers.

Atai is in jail for killing Ang Van Ly at his house in Fairfield, Sydney in 2010 and will not be considered for parole until 2028. Atai, a member of the Sydney Notorious Bikie Gang, reportedly shot Ly in the head after he was told that the man he was looking for wasn't there, according to the Sydney Morning Herald . He was 19 years old at that time and was accompanied by around 12 other men and women. The Fairfield Local Court judge said he didn’t show signs of remorse from the crime he committed. The Australian reports that Atai did not enter a plea or even apply for bail when he appeared in court.

Daily Telegraph reports the Corrective Services NSW is already investigating the account for its authenticity, particularly since the Goulburn prison is one of Australia's most secure facilities. The agency has also reportedly contacted Facebook to remove Atai's image, as well as photos of inmates, from the site. A spokesperson said that they had been aware of the account for some time now but had no evidence whether it was really created by Atai, or if it’s really from inside the facility. The representative added that Facebook profiles can sometimes be created by a fan, friends or family members outside prison on behalf of an inmate.

"The matter is being treated very seriously and has been under active investigation. For security reasons most details of that investigation cannot be disclosed," the spokesperson said in the report from the Daily Telegraph.

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