Bourke St terrorist’s brother jailed for 10 years over Fed Square terror plot
A wannabe terrorist who planned to use an AK-47 to open fire at random revellers packed into Federation Square for New Year’s Eve celebrations in 2017 has been jailed for 10 years.
Police & Courts
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The brother of the Bourke Street terrorist who killed Melbourne identity Sisto Malaspina has been jailed for 10 years over his own terror attack plot.
Ali Khalif Shire Ali, 23, had initially planned to drive a truck through New Year’s Eve crowds at Federation Square in 2017.
But when he lost his driver’s licence, his plot quickly changed and he focused on getting his hands on a high-powered AK47 rifle.
He wanted to position himself in the middle of the crowd and open fire on innocent civilians, before taking some hostage, as the clock struck midnight.
In a detailed two-hour sentence, Supreme Court Justice John Champion said Ali’s plan was “horrifying in its potential savagery” and would have caused “devastating harm to the public”.
“You planned to commit an evil act,” Justice Champion said. “What you were planning was random and despicable.
“The prospect of randomly opening fire into a crowd … is a horrifying state of affairs to contemplate.
“You intended to kill people you didn’t know.
“You wanted to intimidate the Australian community. You also wanted to motivate other Muslims to rise up against the Australian government.”
In recordings with undercover police in the months leading up to his planned attack, the court heard Ali, then 20, told the officers he was “100 per cent ready” to commit the act of terror.
Asked how many people he wanted to take out, he said: “As much as I can, to be honest.”
He added: “Like just before 12 o’clock. As soon as the countdown finishes I will be in the middle of the audience. Just how the brother in France did it. I’m planning to go hard.”
From 2014, Ali started connecting with IS supporters on the internet and would spend hours each night watching gruesome propaganda videos.
But Justice Champion said Ali was remorseful and had now renounced his allegiance to ISIS and apologised for his actions.
Giving evidence in a November hearing, Ali told the court he hated Islamic State for what they did to his brother, Hassan Khalif Shire Ali, 30, who was shot by police and later died in hospital after he fatally stabbed Pellegrini’s Espresso Bar owner Sisto Malaspina in 2018.
Justice Champion said he must deter would-be offenders and protect the community, but noted Ali had positive prospects of rehabilitation.
“It appears to me you are a young man of some promise,” he said.
Justice Champion ordered he serve at least 7 and a half years of his decade-long sentence before he could be considered for release on parole.
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