Aussie terror chief Mohammad Ali Baryalei survived Syrian air strike

THE Sydney terrorist behind an evil plot to kill a random stranger in the city’s CBD is now thought to have survived a major air strike in Syria.

THE Sydney terrorist behind an evil plot to kill a random stranger in the city’s CBD is now thought to have survived a major air strike in Syria.

Intelligence agencies had initially believed Mohammad Ali Baryalei, who is suspected of planning to behead a member of the public in Martin Place, was killed in a coalition bombing raid last month.

But senior defence chiefs yesterday conceded that the 33-year-old Islamic State kingpin was probably still alive.

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Mohammad Ali Baryalei.

Australia’s Chief of Joint Operations Vice Admiral David Johnston said there had not been any “categorical ­evidence to suggest that he’s deceased”.

“I haven’t seen anything to indicate on balance that he’s dead,” he said.

Senior government figures have been trying to determine Baryalei’s status for weeks. Vice Admiral Johnston, who visited Iraq and Afghanistan last week, said he had no evidence any Australians have been killed in the country.

But he said there have been reports that a “number of ISIL leaders ... have been successfully attacked and targeted”.