Lucky break that foiled terror plot

THE British teenager’s plot to kill Australian police might not have been discovered had British officers not arrested him on suspicion of making threats to kill.

He was only held after a long process to try to deradicalise him.

In November 2013, at just 13, the youngster was referred to Channel – a Government counter-terrorism scheme to stopping children being drawn to terrorism.

In February 2014 he was accepted on to the voluntary programme, which is co-ordinated by the police, and ‘significant’ efforts were made to support him.

He was still disruptive in school, but teachers did not believe his behaviour was particularly radical.

His case was closed in July 2014 because it was thought that adequate alternative support was available through social services.

But his extremist views flared up once again and in November 2014 he was given a second referral to Channel. In January this year he expressed the view that killing could be justified on religious grounds. A Channel deradicalisation expert said he was one of the worst cases he had seen.

The expert believed the boy was being manipulated or groomed.

Efforts were made to tackle his extremist views but by March, when the plot was being hatched, the teenager had completely disengaged with the Channel team – blaming them for radicalising him.

A detective sergeant, who acted as a Channel co-ordinator, referred the situation to a detective inspector within the counter-terrorism branch and the defendant was arrested on suspicion of making threats to kill.

Officers found his phone, discovered the 3,000 messages and the plot to kill police officers on Anzac Day and the plot was thwarted.