Queanbeyan Caltex service station stabbing: ‘I lost my son to a Monster’

THE two teenagers accused of killing a Queanbeyan servo worker in an attack with possible terror links had met just hours before, with the mother of one of the boys claiming the other to be a “monster”.

Zeeshan Akbar was allegedly stabbed to death at a Caltex service station in Queanbeyan. Picture: Supplied

• Queanbeyan service station stabbing ‘may be related to terror’
• Accused teen killer ‘boasted about scrawling words in blood’

THE two teenagers accused of brutally killing a Queanbeyan servo worker in an attack with possible terror links had met just hours before, with the mother of one of the boys yesterday claiming the other to be a “monster”.

In an exclusive interview, the 15-year-old’s mum, who cannot be named, claimed her boy only met his co-accused on the day of the alleged attack. “They only met that day, (my son) was hanging out with a mutual group of friends,” she said.

She claimed her son, who has an intellectual disability, didn’t even understand what terrorism was and had only been playing the game “Talking Tom” — a virtual pet app where a kitten grows into a cat — the day before the fateful meeting.

“Why did I let him out that day? Because I didn’t know that a monster would enter our lives that day and destroy so many people’s lives in his path,” she said. “He doesn’t even know what a god damn terrorist is, he doesn’t understand how much trouble he is in.”

The teens, aged 15 and 16, are alleged to have stabbed to death Zeeshan Akbar at a Caltex station on April 7 before robbing him.

Police also allege the pair stabbed another man and stole his car and invaded a home where the older boy assaulted Thomas Field during a string of attacks near the NSW-ACT border.

Zeeshan Akbar was allegedly stabbed to death at a Caltex service station in Queanbeyan. Picture: Supplied

The murder of Mr Akbar, 29, is being investigated as a possible act of terrorism after sources told The Daily Telegraph “IS” was found scrawled in blood at the servo.

It is also understood the 16-year-old is being investigated for posting radical material online.

The woman admitted her son had “gone off the rails” when his dad died three years ago, but said he had been doing better recently.

The 16-year-old accused of the attack is also being investigated for posting radical material online.

It has previously been reported police earnt the elder teen is alleged to have ranted to his mother about ­Islamic State and killing a nonbeliever shortly before he and his accomplice allegedly struck.

Deputy Police Commissioner Catherine Burn said earlier this month that there was enough evidence to suspect that one of the boys “may be related to ­terrorism”.

Flowers at the scene of the service station worker Zeeshan Akbar’s alleged murder. Picture: Kym Smith

The mother’s claims came as Mr Field said the teens spoke of taking LSD while on their alleged crime spree. He also revealed he knew the older teenager before the alleged attack after meeting him through a friend several months earlier.

The woman, who said she is going to move away from Queanbeyan, broke down when talking about Pakistani student Mr Akbar, who she said had served her before at the service station where he died.

Forensic police at the scene of the fatal stabbing. Picture: Kym Smith

“I can’t even go past the service station, I wanted to lay flowers there but I was told not to,” the mum said.

“I feel like I’ve been hit in the head with a baseball bat, there’s washing to do but how do you get up and do the washing when my son’s life has been taken away and someone else’s life has been taken away.”