‘I would blow that plane out of the sky’: Terror law supervision order imposed on boxer Edris Barez

A Sydney boxer has been placed on strict supervision orders following an alarming admission.

Edris Barez, centre, has been placed on strict supervision orders.

A Sydney boxer who tattooed “ALQAEDA” on his arm and ­allegedly told a Corrective Services officer he wished he could blow up a plane with a rocket-propelled grenade launcher has been placed on strict supervision orders after experts warned he could pose a terrorism threat.

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Edris Barez, friend and training partner of well-known Islamist extremist Ahmed Elomar, was last week ordered to comply with strict conditions under NSW high-risk offenders terrorism laws and undergo psychological assessment.

NSW Supreme Court judge ­Elizabeth Fullerton handed down a preliminary judgment last Friday outlining evidence from NSW Police, security expert Rodger Shanahan and the Australian Federal Police.

Edris Barez.

The Crown Solicitor’s Office, for the state of NSW, had sought orders on September 16 ahead of a preliminary hearing last Monday where Mr Barez did not object to his status as an “eligible offender” and a “convicted NSW terrorism activity offender”.

Evidence tendered to court rated Mr Barez — who denies holding any extremist views or support for Islamic State theology — as a “moderate risk of engaging in politically motivated violence, violent extremism or terrorist ­activity”.

In February 2014, Mr Barez had the letters ALQAEDA tattooed along the length of his left arm while in custody. A month later he allegedly told a Corrective Services officer “I wish I had an RPG … I would blow that plane out of the sky”, referring to a plane flying over the prison.

“The officer asked the defendant whether he was ‘inspiring (sic) to be a terrorist’, to which the defendant replied, ‘Well I’m not an extremist but I love al-Qaeda’,” the judgment said.

“On 30 January 2017, following his release to parole in November 2016, the defendant also told police in a routine roadside vehicle stop when they asked about the tattoo, ‘It’s what I believe’.

“I am satisfied that the defendant’s apparent determination to have the tattoo applied in prison, utilising prohibited materials and equipment, evidences … his support for the al-Qaeda terrorist organisation and a desire for affinity with its terrorist ideologies.”

In its evidence, the state identified three individuals with “whom the defendant has a current and continuing association as persons who have advocated support for violent extremism and/or terrorist acts in the past”.

On July 4, police executed a search warrant at the home of Mr Elomar, the brother of slain notorious Islamic State terrorist Mohamed, and examined the phone of his mother which revealed he had “been using that phone to communicate with a number of people, including the defendant”.

Using WhatsApp, the pair, who attend the same boxing gym in Lakemba, discussed the possibility of going for a “horse ride” together.

“Mr Elomar sent the defendant an image of the branding for what is said to be his horse stud, which — according to Dr Shanahan — bears a remarkable resemblance to the Islamic State flag.

“Among other things the defendant sent to Mr Elomar via the WhatsApp messaging service (was) a video of himself riding a horse and another video of himself using a traditional bow and arrow in which he attaches the commentary, ‘ … teaches the traditional way the Ottomans used to do it’ and ‘Not the English way’.

“Dr Shanahan reported upon the significance of horses, horse riding and archery to the concept of jihad and equated those activities with the values of living ­according to the dictates of historical Islamic militarism.”

Another individual, whose name was suppressed, was in a car with Mr Barez when police stopped it in Parramatta on August 2. Both had worked at a carpentry business as of July this year.

In 2017, Mr EB pleaded guilty to giving/receiving services to assist Amin Elmir enter Syria with the intention of engaging in hostile activities. The third association was with Muhammad Wahabzadah, who is known to police.

“He was arrested in August 2016 for possession of a loaded Remington rifle, 24 rounds of ammunition, knives, knuckle dusters, an Islamic Brotherhood embossed sweater, an Islamic State flag and various items of what was described as ‘Islamic literature’.”

Justice Fullerton said given the association between the defendant and the three men, she was satisfied he was a “convicted NSW terrorism activity offender” and imposed an interim supervision order for 28 days beginning on Monday and ordered he undergo a psychiatric examination, among other conditions.