Terror hopeful Abdullah Chaarani changes terror plot stance ahead of sentencing
A group who plotted to slaughter people with machetes in Melbourne’s heart and detonate bombs strapped to their bodies in an IS-inspired plot could still face years in jail.
True Crime
Don't miss out on the headlines from True Crime. Followed categories will be added to My News.
A trio of wannabe terrorists are facing life behind bars despite publicly denouncing Islamic State and begging for mercy.
Abduallh Chaarani, 29, his cousin Hamza Abbas, 24, and friend Ahmed Mohamed, 27, will be sentenced next month over an IS-inspired plot to stage a mass attack in Melbourne’s CBD.
They hoped to kill scores of innocent Victorians.
At a two day pre-sentence hearing this week Chaarani and Mohamed both publicly denounced IS, a move the court heard was a possible world first for convicted terrorists.
Abbas begged for mercy claiming he was a mere follower, and was duped into taking part in the plot.
The men each vehemently denied their involvement in the plot, pleaded not guilty, but were ultimately convicted by a jury of plotting the terrorist act.
Chaarani and Mohamed have since made full admissions, denounced IS, and waived their right to an appeal against their convictions.
Justice Christopher Beale today questioned Chaarani about his motives, saying cynical members of the public might accuse him of simply trying to reduce his sentence.
Justice Beale, who will sentence the men on November 29, said their offending fell in the upper range of seriousness for the type of offence.
He said it attracted a maximum penalty of life imprisonment.
Chaarani and Mohamed are already serving 17-year minimum jail terms for firebombing a Melbourne mosque.
The terror trio were co-conspirators of Ibrahim Abbas, the older brother of Hamza, who confessed to wanting to slaughter scores of innocent Victorians as payback for Australia’s war on Islamic State.
He planned to stage the attack around Federation Square, with St Paul’s Cathedral and Flinders St Station identified as possible attack sites.
Ibrahim pleaded guilty to planning an attack while his three co-offenders denied any involvement before being convicted by a jury.
He was jailed for 24 years, with a 20 year non parole period.
READ MORE:
TERROR HOPEFUL TAUNTS POLICE: ‘MAKE ME A MARTYR’
In their attack the group planned to slaughter people with machetes and detonate bombs strapped to their bodies.
The men purchased chemicals, explosive substances, and other components to make a bomb, bought bladed weapons and conducted reconnaissance in the CBD.
They had practised making bombs with materials bought from Bunnings, Chemist Warehouse and Boating Camping and Fishing.
The group were arrested on December 22, 2016, after months of surveillance by anti-terror police.
At the time authorities feared an attack was imminent.
Giving evidence today, Chaarani told the court he had “realised what an idiot” he was for believing he could wage violent jihad after getting caught up in extremist Islamic beliefs.
He said he now denounced IS after asking himself “what are we doing hating these people, what for?”.
Ibrahim, who told the court of his plan in chilling detail, had urged the group to act by Christmas Day of 2016.
“I wanted to make sure that the casualties would be high. The bigger the better,” he said.
“The bigger the more terror is achieved, and that’s the point.”
Ibrahim said he was prepared to die for his belief saying: “The whole point of jihad is martyrdom.”