NSW terror suspect first person on strict new ’extended supervision order’
A car thief who allegedly made threats about a terror attack against Bankstown Shopping Centre has become the first person in NSW to be placed under strict new terrorism supervision orders.
NSW
Don't miss out on the headlines from NSW. Followed categories will be added to My News.
A car thief who allegedly made threats about a terror attack against Bankstown Shopping Centre has become the first person in NSW to be placed under strict new “preventive” anti-terror laws.
Muslim convert Greg Ceissman has been released from jail — but will live under an unprecented level of scrutiny controlling his movements and living conditions for the next two years.
Supreme Court Judge Stephen Rothman ordered Ceissman, who was allegedly radicalised while in jail for unrelated theft offences, be placed on an “Extended Supervision Order” under the new Terrorism (High Risk Offenders) Act.
Ceissman, 24, will be subjected to almost 50 conditions, including wearing electronic monitoring, a night curfew and providing a weekly list of his movements, and is banned from driving a truck or car over one tonne, visiting internet cafes and reading extremist material, and must get approval for any jobs or travel.
MORE: Alleged terrorism sympathiser released
Last night NSW Attorney-General Mark Speakman said the laws, passed in December last year, were “exceptional powers”.
“People are generally jailed for what they have done, not what ongoing risk they pose to the community,” he said.
“But in these times we have introduced tough laws to make community safety number one.
“Mr Ceissman will be the subject of a very strict two-year extended supervision order … with very tough conditions.
“This represents the first time in NSW such an order has been made.
“We make no apology for having among the toughest terrorism laws in the world here in NSW.”
“We have introduced a regimen that allows courts to order — where there’s a high probability of an unacceptable risk — the detention and ongoing supervision of prisoners for terrorist risk.”
Two other applications to use the wide-ranging powers are “on foot at the moment”, Mr Speakman said.
“We need these orders because we live in challenging times. We face the ongoing risk of terrorism.
“We hope eventually to win that war on terrorism but that war has not been won.”
Ceissman has already been accused of breaching interim conditions by using dating apps and a messaging app and was thrown back in jail just days after his release in April.
MORE NEWS:
Accused’s boyfriend died in bikie arson attack
Uni student in court after Woolies stabbing
Knights eye off another marquee recruit
It was alleged he spoke of intentions to attack Bankstown Shopping Centre in Sydney’s suburban southwest, as well as Marrickville Police Station in the inner west, where he used to live and was known to clash with local police.
An earlier court hearing was told a prison informer said Ceissman threatened to travel to Syria to undergo training in the use of weapons and “mental conditioning” so he could return to Sydney as a killer.
His first target was alleged to have been his local Marrickville Police Station where he had planned to go to the front counter with knives, firearms and explosives.