Aussie men charged with terrorism for torching mosque

MELBOURNE: Australian police have charged three men with committing terrorist acts on suspicion of starting fires at a Syiah mosque in Melbourne last year, inspired by the Islamic State.

Two of the men are already in custody and awaiting trial on suspicion of plotting bomb attacks in Australia’s second largest city last year, while a third, a 29-year-old Melbourne man, was arrested late on Saturday.

All three face a maximum penalty of life imprisonment over the arson attack at the Imam Ali Islamic Centre in December 2016.

Australian Federal Police’s counter terrorism manager said attacking a place of worship had no place in society.

“It is clear these arson attacks were designed to intimidate and influence those that attend this mosque,” Assistant Commissioner Ian McCartney said yesterday.

Australia, a staunch US ally that has sent troops to Afghanistan and Iraq, has been on heightened alert since 2014 for attacks by homegrown militants returning from the Middle East, or their supporters.

While there have been several “lone wolf” attacks, officials say 13 significant plots have been foiled.

Police say the three men were adherents of militant ideology.

Police added the arrest of the man on Saturday came after extensive investigations into fires at the Melbourne mosque.

The other two men facing charges are in custody and awaiting trial for allegedly planning militant attacks around Christmas Day 2016 in Melbourne.

The two, a 25-year-old and a 27-year-old, will also be charged with terrorist offences for causing a previous fire at a mosque in 2016.

The man who was arrested on Saturday appeared in Melbourne Magistrates’ Court yesterday, while the other two will appear in court today. — Reuters