Would-be terrorist Tamim Khaja ‘wouldn’t buckle’ at shooting a baby
A would-be terrorist — who scoped out Sydney targets including Parramatta courts and Timor Army Barracks — told undercover police he “wouldn’t buckle” at firing at a baby or someone carrying the infant, a court has heard.
NSW
Don't miss out on the headlines from NSW. Followed categories will be added to My News.
A WOULD-BE terrorist said he “wouldn’t buckle” at firing at a two-month-old baby or someone carrying the infant, a Sydney court has been told.
Tamim Khaja, 20, who has pleaded guilty to preparing for or planning a terrorist act, had begun to scope out potential target buildings in Sydney including the Parramatta District Court precinct and Timor Army Barracks when he was arrested in 2016.
At his sentence hearing in the NSW Supreme Court at Parramatta today, Justice Desmond Fagan said the facial expression of the would-be terrorist talking about killing as many innocent people as he could was “like he was planning a picnic”.
Referred to surveillance footage of Khaja speaking with two undercover police officers, he said: ““He is filmed talking to people he thought were of the same ideology as he directs them to Timor Barracks at Dundas, and his facial expression when talking about killing as many innocent people as he could was very much like he was planning a picnic.”
Justice Fagan described the then-teenager’s face as expressionless — as it was when he spoke about having a large enough car to drive into people.
“He does seem in a state of a possessed religious fanaticism, devoid of empathy or humanity,” the judge said.
MORE: Khaja pleads guilty to planning terrorist attack
MORE: Court told of Khaja’s terrorist targets
He stressed that the Muslim religion was not on trial but, as sentencing judge, he had to try and identify the source of Khaja’s “depraved belief”.
Khaja himself had said he was motivated not by watching YouTube videos but “straight from the verses of Quran”.
In court today, the prosecutor tendered an agreed statement of facts which included numerous comments he made on an encrypted messaging application and during meetings with the two undercover officers.
In May 2016, he met the pair at Parramatta and they drove to the Pirtek Stadium car park in that suburb.
“For an attack like this is taken in Australia akhi (brother), it would weaken the Australian government so much,” Khaja said.
“So that’s why I am saying when I say maximum fire, I mean to take down as many of them down as I can, and at the end when I see that there’s too many I will take myself with them as well.”
He later said police officers were the best targets but it need not be them that was targeted.
“Honestly my heart is leaning towards the court.”
Later Khaja said he would keep in mind that “it’s happening for the sake of Allah” if anyone comes in his way.
“So I’m not going to stop firing. I’m not going to stop firing wallahi (I swear to Allah).
“If there’s like a two-month-old baby, or someone holding a baby, I’m just trying to think if that’s true, I wouldn’t buckle in that situation akhi. No, I wouldn’t buckle. There’s no turning back akhi.”
The hearing is continuing.