Trio who were planning terror plot inspired by Bourke St attack

A trio of men plotted to gun down members of the public in Melbourne after seeing the deadly Bourke St terror attack on the news, a court has heard.

Ertunc Eriklioglu faces life behind bars after admitted he and two others were conspiring to buy a firearm in preparation or planning for a terrorist act. Picture Jay Town

A trio of radicalised men plotted to gun down random members of the public in Melbourne after seeing the deadly 2018 Bourke St terror attack on the news, a court has heard.

Ertunc Eriklioglu, 33, his brother Samed Eriklioglu, 28 and their friend Hanifi Halis, 23, face life behind bars after they admitted to conspiring to buy a firearm in preparation or planning for a terrorist act between November 9 and November 19, 2018.

The County Court of Victoria on Tuesday heard the men had been meeting in Ertunc Eriklioglu’s Dallas garage for several months where they prayed, listened to lectures and shared violent jihadist material from ISIS and Al Qaeda.

The men later discussed the purchase of an unregistered gun to be used in an attack intended to advance Islam through violence, the court heard.

The day before their arrests by counter-terrorism police in raids across Melbourne’s north, the men visited a graveyard and the older Eriklioglu brother spoke of dying as a martyr.

“Death could be around the corner bro,” he told the group.

Halis responded, “live every day as your last bro”.

Ertunc Eriklioglu, Samed Eriklioglu, Hanifi Halisi in court.

The court heard after paying a deposit for a .22 calibre rifle, the men “changed their mind” and asked about getting their money back.

Prosecutor Darren Renton said the men, who had become disengaged and isolated, were inspired to carry out an attack after Hassan Khalif Shire Ali, 30, set his ute on fire and attacked three people on Bourke Street in 9 November 2018, killing cafe owner Sisto Malaspina.

Later that night, the three men met in the garage and Ertunc Eriklioglu said: “We do something yeah? Let’s do something”.

“From that time, their discussions endorsing the legitimacy of terrorism evolved into an agreement between them … to plan for a terrorist act,” Mr Renton said.

“Each of the co-offenders believed in the righteousness of violent jihad to be waged against the perceived enemies of Islam,” he said.

Hanifi Halis. Picture Jay Town

The court heard the men all worked for a landscaping company at the time of the offending and ASIO had cancelled their passports in early 2018.

Julian McMahon SC, for Halis, said this case differed from other terrorist trials in that the conspiracy ended prior to his client’s arrest.

Mr McMahon said Halis had become lost, lonely and depressed while studying at university before becoming involved in Street Dawah – preaching on the street.

Mr McMahon said his client had maintained strong family and community support and provided eight character references on his Halis’ behalf.

The plea hearing continues before Judge Michael O’Connell continues.