ISIS member Isaac el Matari’s Sydney terror plot confession

A young Islamic State extremist promised to execute every politician in the middle of Sydney, as he planned a guerilla campaign of terror, a court has heard.

A notorious young Islamic State extremist told his associate from: “the depths of my heart I really wanted to and still want to” carry out a Sydney terror attack, a court has heard.

Supreme Court Justice Peter Garling heard submissions on Tuesday from both the Crown and defence on what he should consider before sentencing Isaac el Matari, who admitted planning “guerrilla-style” attacks across the state from a proposed base in the Blue Mountains.

The 22-year-old has pleaded guilty to engaging in preparations for incursions into foreign countries for the purpose of engaging in hostile activities and doing an act in preparation of a terrorist act.

The Greenacre man asked for the court to take into account a third charge of knowingly being a member of a terrorist organisation.

Isaac El Matari being transported into Parramatta Court. Picture: Seven News

Crown Prosecutor Sophie Callan SC asked Justice Garling to be “sceptic” of el Matari’s claim he no longer supported the terrorist organisation.

She told the court he acted “over many months” between 2018 until his arrest in July 2019, in a way which reflected his devotion to their ideology, including telling his associate he wanted to carry out a terrorist attack.

“In the depths of my heart I really wanted to and still do want to,” he was recorded saying in a May 2019 recorded conversation tendered to the court.

Prosecutor Callan said: “He expresses a then-current desire for that plan to be actioned, or otherwise, brought into effect.”

He was captured in police phone taps talking about his plans to create a base in the Blue Mountains, saying how he planned to have people bring them food and fuel from the city, “like the brothers in Afghanistan and the Philippines”.

Terrifyingly, he told an associate they would: “kill every state politician in the middle of the city” then deliver a political message.

Speaking with an associate in his home, he slammed Australian Muslim men saying all they cared about was “what conditioner they use, how big their beard is, how many girls follow (them) on Facebook (and) trying to impress girls”.

He said they “would regret it” when they see him on the front page of the newspaper under the report of him being “blown to pieces”.

He was recorded speaking to himself, saying: “We will destroy the idols and we will take their women as bondwomen (slaves).”

El Matari served nine months in a Lebanon prison in 2017 after attempting to join IS in Syria, via Turkey, under the pretence of studying, the agreed facts show.

Isaac el Matari has admitted planning “guerrilla-style” attacks across the state from a proposed base in the Blue Mountains.

Police surveilled him on his return to Australia, capturing conversations he had with acquaintances, which led to his arrest.

They tracked him visiting a hunting shop in St Mary’s and buying a cream-coloured tactical vest, before being photographed wearing it around his unit, the agreed facts show.

He listened to IS songs, was found with violent propaganda videos including beheadings, inquired about purchasing assault rifles and was recorded saying he would “defend this global community and the message of Allah”, the court heard.

The court heard he planned to target well-known landmarks including the military base Holsworthy Barracks, the American Consulate, the Iranian Consulate, NSW Parliament House and St Marie’s Cathedral, the Crown told the court.

But el Matari was recorded telling an associate his brothers in Australia were “cowards” who took him “as a joke”, before he decided to again try and join IS soldiers overseas, the court heard.

He dreamt of “four boys with long hair and beards”, which he interpreted as a sign he was needed in Afghanistan.

The court heard he married an Australian woman with a view to return, before proceeding to book flights to Pakistan, planning to enter Afghanistan’s Khorasan province via the border, where a contingent of IS members are based.

Barrister Matt Johnston SC told the court his client’s desire to join IS was “intertwined with his commitment to faith”.

“His intention to travel was wrapped up in his broader commitment to his faith. He sees the two as hand-in-hand,” Mr Johnston told the court.

“He doesn’t want to go overseas to kill and be a mercenary. His submission is far more complex than that.”

Mr Johnston said his client had good prospects of rehabilitation, despite a psychologist noting in a report it was too soon to tell if there was a shift in his extremist attitudes.

He asked Justice Garling to take into account the affect Covid-19 has on prisoners and that his client has PTSD.

Justice Garling reserved his sentence to a later date.