Convicted terrorist’s son pictured for the first time as he appears in court on weapon charge

The son of recently released convicted terrorist Abdul Nacer Benbrika has failed in a bid for a suppression order after he was arrested at an airport allegedly with knuckle dusters.

Ibrahim Benbrika - the son of notorious terrorist Abdul Nacer Benbrika - at Broadmeadows Magistrates Court on Tuesday appearing before the court on firearms charges. Picture: Liam Mendes

The son of recently released convicted terrorist Abdul Nacer Benbrika has failed in a bid to apply for a suppression order on a “major charge” of possessing a prohibited weapon after he was arrested at an airport allegedly with a knuckle duster.

Ibrahim Benbrika sat slumped in the back row of courtroom one of Broadmeadows Magistrates Court with his eyes closed as he waited for his matter to be called, before requesting a suppression order to prohibit media coverage of his case.

The 23-year-old is living under the same roof as his father – considered one of the nation’s most notorious terrorists – who was released in December after almost two decades in prison for plotting terrorism acts.

Both Abdul, 63, and Ibrahim now live in the same household following the former’s release from Barwon Prison just days before Christmas after he spent 18 years behind bars for plotting terrorism acts.

Mr Benbrika, who was self-­represented, did not make submissions as to why a suppression order should be made.

The request was dismissed by a magistrate, who cited the prin­ciples of open justice.

Mr Benbrika also requested an adjournment as he had only begun making arrangements for a solicitor the day prior to his court appearance.

In early 2023, he was charged with “possession of prohibited weapon” by way of summons after he was allegedly found in possession of the prohibited weapon at Terminal Three at Melbourne Airport on January 23, 2022, but a warrant was issued for his arrest after he allegedly failed to appear before the court.

Convicted terrorist Abdul Nacer Benbrika on December 28. Picture: David Crosling

Following his arrest, he was refused police bail and appeared before a magistrate, where he was again granted bail. He first appeared before a magistrate at Broadmeadows Magistrates’ Court on July 3, and then again on October 2.

Prior to Abdul Nacer Benbrika’s release, Abdul had become the centre of national debate over whether the federal government had done enough to keep him in custody, and whether there were enough protections in place to keep the community safe.

He was granted freedom, to be closely monitored within the community by way of a strict Extended Supervision Order, prohibiting who he could contact and where he could go, and that he must wear a tracking device.

As part of the 30 conditions of the ESO, Benbrika is now living in a three-bedroom home owned by the Housing Department in northern Melbourne with his wife and four of his children.

The Australian understands the AFP tried to prevent Benbrika from having contact with two of his other sons, Bakr and Oussama, due to their association with convicted terrorists and underworld gangsters.

Victorian Supreme Court judge Elizabeth Hollingworth did not outline in her ruling why the AFP thought Benbrika should not have contact with those children, nor their ages. However, in 2015, Bakr Benbrika was stopped at Melbourne airport on suspicion of planning to travel to Syria. He was also found to be a member of a WhatsApp group with three convicted terrorists.

In the weeks following his release, Abdul Nacer Benbrika told the Herald Sun he was a changed man and Australians should not be afraid of him.

Another son of Benbrika also said he wanted people to know they were a regular family who were grateful to be reunited. “It’s completely different now. We just want to tell people we are like any other family,” he said.