Trio tested bombs for Melbourne attack, court hears
THREE accused terrorists tested home made bombs and tried to assemble a suicide vest which police suspect were to be used on a Christmas Day attack on St Paul’s Cathedral, a court has heard.
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THREE accused terrorists tested home made bombs and tried to assemble a suicide vest which police suspect were to be used on a Christmas Day attack on St Paul’s Cathedral, a court has heard.
Prosecutor Nick Papas QC said Hamza Abbas, Abdullah Chaarani and Ahmed Mohamad were arrested on December 22, 2016 after authorities became concerned that an attack was imminent.
Each of the men has pleaded not guilty and said through their lawyers on Wednesday that denied ever planned a terrorist attack.
COURT: COPS FILMED ACCUSED TERRORISTS PREPARING CHRISTMAS ATTACK
“All I can ask of you is that you keep 15 open minds in relation to the evidence and that you wait until the evidence is in,” said John Kelly SC, Mr Mohamad’s barrister.
The prosecution alleges the men bought large hunting knives, explosives, chemicals and other items which the prosecution alleges were part of a conspiracy to plan a terrorist attack.
In early December just weeks before their arrest, Improvised Explosive Devices were allegedly tested in isolated spots around King Lake, although Mr Papas conceded a police search of the sites found burned areas but no other evidence of bombs.
When the men were arrested, Mr Chaarani allegedly taunted police.
“Go on, make me a martyr. Go on, martyr me,” Mr Chaarani allegedly said.
“You can’t stop us all. You’ll all die.”
Mr Papas said the men were also recorded watching violent jihadist videos and allegedly talking about an imminent attack.
Searches of their properties found chemicals, 800 explosives charges normally used in construction, fuses, shrapnel and other equipment which the prosecution alleges were part of the planning for a terrorist attack.
“Sins are fully purges by sharp swords in the necks of disbelievers. Do you understand,” Mr Mohamad was recorded saying.
On another occasion, when Mr Papas said the men were at an “advanced stage of planning”, Mr Mohamad alleged said:
“I got thoughts in my head. What’s going to happen to my wife. Who’s going to help her.”
Mr Papas earlier said the men were driven by a “ideological and religious objective to wage violent jihad against those they consider to be disbelievers” and that they followed an “extremist brand of Sunni Islam”.
“Australia is one of a group of western nations regarded as a an enemy of Islam,” Mr Papas said.
On December 20, 2016, the trio along with another man were monitored from the Hume Islamic Centre in Coolaroo to the CBD.
“They conducted reconnaissance of the agreed target area of Federation Square, Flinders Street and St Paul’s Cathedral,” Mr Papas said.
Mr Papas said the men were in the thrall of Islamic State, which in 2014 had issued a fatwa ordering followers to kill “the filthy French or an Australian or a Canadian”, especially police, emergency workers or intelligence officers.
The trial, before Justice Christopher Beale, continues.
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