Terrorist parole bid

Teen who plotted a beheading rampage could soon be freed

A TEENAGE terrorist who plotted a beheading rampage on Anzac Day and was sentenced to life in prison in 2015 could be free as early as next week, with authorities set to give him parole and a new identity.

The boy, codenamed RXG, was jailed in October 2015 for organising and advising a plot to behead police and others during an Anzac Day march in Melbourne that year.

The British teenager was aged just 14 and sitting in his Northern England bedroom when he connected with notorious Australian ISIS recruiter Neil Prakash and the pair plotted an attack in Australia, organising Melbourne-based Sevdet Besim to carry it out.

But the now 19-year-old, who for legal reasons cannot be identified, is being considered for parole, with his young age working in favour of his release. This is despite internal police files since his remand questioning his remorse, severed links to ISIS and extremist views.

One probation report found he was still ideologically aligned to ISIS, had a deep hate for the West, “shows no remorse and has shown limited progress since remand”.

His report also lists him as “dangerous and sophisticated” and a master manipulator, who posed “a significant threat” to the community.

His report concluded while he did recognise what he had done was wrong, “compelling evidence” would be required to prove jail had deradicalised him and he was not conning psychologists and authorities.

At his sentencing, the youth received a life term, but a judge said the teen should be considered for parole after a minimum five years given his age.

Authorities confirmed the review was under way with a view to returning him to the community with a new identity.