Teenage terrorist’s plan to be martyr

A TEENAGER who planned a homegrown terrorist attack left a “martyrdom note” in which he vowed to strike “fear into the enemies of Allah and establish his jihad in Australia”.

Sevdet Besim pleaded guilty to plotting to run over a police officer on Anzac Day last year and then use the officer’s gun to go on a bloody rampage.

A TEENAGER who planned a homegrown terrorist attack left a “martyrdom note” in which he vowed to strike “fear into the enemies of Allah and establish his jihad in Australia”.

Sevdet Besim pleaded guilty to plotting to run over a police officer on Anzac Day last year and then use the officer’s gun to go on a bloody rampage.

Details of the Melbourne teen’s martyrdom note were made public after a federal circuit court judge approved the release of documents in the terrorism case.

Australian Federal Police said a gruesome image of the body of terrorist friend Irfan Hussein, who was killed while fighting in Syria, prompted Besim and his friend Harun Causevic to carry out an attack.

In his affidavit to the court, AFP Deputy Commissioner Neil Gaughan said Besim fully expected to be killed if he carried out his attack., Mr Gaughan said Causevic, who was storing military-style knives in his bedroom and viewed ISIS propaganda, remains a danger to the public.

“I believe for at least as long as Mr Causevic remains unable to travel overseas to fight for Islamic State, his focus and plans must remain on carrying out a terrorist act in Australia.’

Mr Gaughan said Causevic’s recent apparent benign behaviour was influenced by his parents concerns, an impending jail sentence and suspicions over being monitored by police. “I do not believe this behaviour represents a long-lasting change in Mr Causevic’s beliefs, view or intentions,” he said.

“I believe for at least as long as Mr Causevic remains unable to travel overseas to fight for Islamic State, his focus and plans must remain on carrying out a terrorist act in Australia.’’

In the martyrdom note recovered from his Samsung phone, Besim said he was inspired to attack after the death of close friend Numan Haider, shot when he attacked two counter-terrorism officers in 2014.

Besim said he believed the West had always been at war with Islam and Muslims. “This war had always had a impact on me, however recently my brother Numan (May Allah accept him) carried out his attack, this opened my eyes up to the reality of who the enemy is,’’ he wrote. “Since then a growing feeling within me has led me to decide to carry out my own (attack).

“To establish my jihad in Australia ... and put fear into those who are enemies to Allah and his religion.”

Terrorism charges against Causevic were dropped last August for insufficient evidence but he pleaded guilty to a number of weapon charges.

Last week Judge Norah Hartnett confirmed a control order on Mr Causevic which bars him from associating with former members of the radical Al Furqan Information Centre.