Sydney bottle shop worker reveals disturbing encounter with accused terror teens

A Sydney bottle shop worker allegedly assaulted last week by a group of teenagers — some of whom were arrested over alleged terrorism activity — has opened up on the confronting ordeal.

One of the teens questioned in this weeks terror raids seen in CCTV of an incident where he was throwing stones at an employee at a drive-through bottle shop.

A Sydney bottle shop worker allegedly assaulted last week by a group of teenagers – some of whom were allegedly planning a terrorist attack unbeknown to him at the time – has told of the disturbing encounter, saying he is “scared” and “can’t sleep”.

Confronting CCTV of the incident shows the teens allegedly harassing the bottle shop worker before a big plank of wood and rocks are hurled at him over the counter at the store in Lurnea on April 22.

Three teens, aged 15, 16 and 17, were arrested over the incident.

The 15-year-old and 17-year-old were charged, but the 16-year-old was released without being charged.

The charged boys – who police say at the time were deep in the stages of planning a terror attack – allegedly had hunting and kitchen knives on them.

Lurnea Liquor bottle shop, where the owner was attacked multiple times by teens who were later arrested in counter terrorism raids last week. 29/04/2024. Picture by Max Mason-Hubers

The 15-year-old and 17-year-old were later arrested in sweeping raids and actually charged with terrorism offences on April 24.

Speaking publicly for the first time, the bottle shop worker – who did not want to be named because he fears for his safety – said he could have been killed had the wooden plank allegedly thrown at him had hit him in the head.

One of the teens arrested in sweeping raids. Picture: NSW Police"

“I am scared, I can’t sleep properly,” he told The Daily Telegraph.

When asked about his reaction to the teens being arrested shortly after their alleged assault on him over terror charges, he said: “I am worried about their future”.

“(These) unknown persons, why enter this place, why do these things?” he said.

“Why, what’s the problem?

“We’re a community, we’re Australian, we want peace here.”

The owner of Lurnea Liquor bottle shop was attacked multiple times by teens arrested in counter terrorism raids last week. Picture shows the owner holding rocks which were thrown at his head by the teens. Picture: Max Mason-Hubers

A piece of a wooden pallet which one of the teens violently threw at the owner who was standing behind the counter. 29/04/2024. Picture by Max Mason-Hubers

Later, two other teens that were arrested in the anti-terror raids, a 16-year-old and a 17-year-old, allegedly discussed the incident at the bottle shop in intercepted messages, according to a police fact sheet tendered to court.

Agitated, the 16-year-old allegedly expressed his frustration at the other boys for being arrested over the bottle shop incident because their phones could reveal their alleged terror attack plans.

One of the teens arrested in terror raids. Picture: NSW Police"

“Far out, what a dumb … why the f**k did they do that bro? You know we’re actually gone for a long time if they trough his phone yeah? You know that yeah” he asked.

“Far out bro, these f**kwits are so retarded bro, if I get done because of them … day of judgment.”

But the 16-year-old allegedly said he knew Australian Federal Police were already investigating them after another boy had allegedly stabbed Christian Bishop Mar Mari Emmanuel at a Wakeley church on April 15.

“We’re done already bro, the AFP said they were investigating (the boy’s) circle of friends,” he said.

All four boys remain before the courts. They are yet to enter pleas.

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