Australian teenager jailed over terror plot

An Australian teenager has been jailed for at least 12 years for planning a terrorist act, local media reported yesterday. The now 18-year-old, who cannot be named due to legal reasons, was found guilty by a jury in September, according to the Sydney Morning Herald. The Sydney resident admitted sympathising with the Islamic State group when he bought fixed-blade hunting knives in 2016 from a gun shop, telling the salesman he wanted to go “pig hunting.” He was arrested later the same year along with a friend.

He denied planing to use the weapons in a terror attack, maintaining his innocence throughout the trial while claiming an interest in hunting. New South Wales Supreme Court Judge Geoffrey Bellew was quoted as saying the denial flew in the face of overwhelming evidence of an imminent attack. The judge sentenced the offender to 16 years in prison with a non-parole period of 12 years. “I am satisfied that, at the time of the offending, the offender was an unequivocally committed terrorist,” Bellew said.

“Armed with weapons, and inspired and motivated by the depraved advocacy of Islamic State, the offender engaged in acts which had a real capacity to cause members of the community to fear for their lives.” The teen was also in possession of a note pledging allegiance to Islamic State.

A jury in September found him guilty but could not reach a verdict of his co-accused— tried at the same time — who will be retried next year.