Bangladeshi student set to plead guilty over attack on Roger Singaravelu
AN explosive police interview has revealed that a 24-year-old Bangladeshi student felt “obligated” to try and kill for Islamic State or be punished by Allah, describing her homestay host as an “easy target”.
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A BANGLADESHI student has admitted travelling to Australia for the sole purpose of carrying out a terrorist attack on behalf of Islamic State.
In an explosive police interview made public today, 24-year-old Momena Shoma admitted being in Melbourne for just a week before trying to kill.
She is charged with attacking her homestay host Roger Singaravelu by plunging a 25cm knife into his neck as he slept near his young daughter.
SHOMA CHARGED WITH ENGAGING IN A TERRORIST ACT
DAD TRIED TO HELP WOMAN BEFORE THE ALLEGED ATTACK
“I had to do it … it could have been anyone … he just seemed like a very easy target,” Ms Shoma told police.
“I had to push myself. I wouldn’t even hurt a rat … I just felt like if I don’t do it, I will be sinful, I will be punished by Allah.”
Ms Shoma said she didn’t read or write Arabic but believed from conversations with people on online forums that Islamic State were calling women to fight on their behalf.
She said she acted on the direction of Islamic State leader Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi.
“I just felt like I had ridded myself of blame. I didn’t care whether it was successful or not … in front of Allah I just can tell him that I tried.
“I just felt obligated, and it was like a burden on me. I just had to do it.”
Mr Singaravelu described the attack in terrifying detail in a police statement.
“I thought that I was dreaming as I felt a sharp pain on my neck. I woke up and started screaming,” he said.
“I saw (her) right next to me, she was on her knees, with both of her hands on a knife that was in my neck.
“(She) had such an intense look. Her eyes were so intense. She was saying “Allahu Akbar”, she kept on saying this over and over.”
Dressed in a niqab, Ms Shoma today appeared at the Melbourne Magistrates Court for a committal hearing.
She refused to stand for magistrate Sarah Dawes on three occasions.
In all Victorian courts, accused, lawyers and members of the public are required to stand when a judicial officer enters or leaves the courtroom.
The gesture shows respect for Australian laws and the judicial process rather than for the individual magistrate or judge.
She admitted to police she said “Allahu Akbar” as she attacked Mr Singaravelu as he slept on February 9.
“It was like my remembrance … Allah is the greatest,” she said.
Ms Shoma is charged with single counts of engaging in a terrorist act, which carries a maximum penalty of life in prison, and attempted murder, which carries 25 years behind bars.
Her lawyer, Grace Morgan, said she “intends to plead guilty to appropriate charges.”
But negotiations are still taking place between prosecutors and Ms Shoma’s legal team.
Ms Shoma was today committed on both charged after refusing to enter a formal plea.
Instead Ms Dawes entered a plea of not guilty on her behalf.
Ms Shoma waived her right to a preliminary hearing, electing instead to have her matter progress straight to the Supreme Court where she will appear next week.
Before being placed with Mr Singaravelu and his family Ms Shoma was living with another host family, but was moved after concerns were raised about her behaviour, the court previously heard.
The first family told the Australian Homestay Network: “We’re scared, we don’t want her living with us”.
Ms Shoma performed what was described as a “practice run” attack on a mattress in her first host family’s home.
She was then placed with Mr Singaravelu’s family.
Mr Singaravelu, who was in court today, is suing the Australian Homestay Network, which organised the student’s placement.
He suffered a crushed vertebra and deep cuts to his fingers in the attack.