Selfish reason for bomb hoax terror
A MAN who used a fake bomb to bring a Queensland airport to a standstill had “malicious and self-serving” motivations to cause mass panic and instil fear in the public.
Frustrated by his experience with Australia’s Family Court system and longing to see his children, Gamal Elsaied Elboushi hatched a desperate plan that culminated in a dramatic standoff at Brisbane International Airport last year.
His terrified family and other passengers scrambled away after he ambushed
them at the terminal, before brandishing a knife and threatening to detonate a fake bomb.
Even while surrounded by police, the Gold Coast man remained defiant, saying that he didn’t care whether he died and had needles filled with “snake venom” in his wristbands.
Details of the 52-year-old’s terrifying rampage through the airport were revealed at Brisbane District Court on Monday.
Elboushi, a prominent and award-winning cinematographer and film producer, sat silently in the dock during the sentencing hearing.
He had pleaded guilty in March to a string of charges, including making a bomb hoax, unlawful stalking and possessing a weapon.
Crown prosecutor Elizabeth Kelso detailed his meticulous and elaborate plan, spurred by his desperation to see his young daughters.
Defence lawyer
Angus
Edwards said Elboushi’s offending was akin to “a cry for help”.
“There is no doubt what he did was appalling and was not going to achieve what he hoped would achieve,” Mr Edwards said.
“He just wanted to see his children – he went about it in a criminal way.
“It’s a cruel irony that a man who was in such emotional distress over not being able to see his daughters for over 12 months has created for himself a situation where the time in which he’ll be able to see his children in the future is that much further away.”
Mr Edwards said his client was remorseful and while his offending was selfinterested, it could not be considered “malicious” as he was too focused on his own emotional pain.
Mr Edwards submitted that Elboushi’s time in custody would be harsher as English was not his first language and he had a number of health issues.
He said Elboushi had been assaulted six times in presentence custody by prisoners who thought he was a “terrorist”.
Judge Suzanne Sheridan adjourned Elboushi’s sentencing to Tuesday.
HE JUST WANTED TO SEE HIS CHILDREN – HE WENT ABOUT IT IN A CRIMINAL WAY
DEFENCE LAWYER ANGUS EDWARDS