Explosive kangarooExplosive kangaroo part of teenagers' Melbourne terror plot
A 15-year old Briton and a 19-year old Australian were arrested for plotting to fill a kangaroo with explosives, paint an ISIS flag on its flank, then set it loose next to a group of police officers in order to kill as many of them as possible. The explosive kangaroo was part of a larger series of terror attacks the two, and four co-conspirators, were planning to launch in Melbourne during the 25 April 2015 commemorative services for Anzac Day, held to mark a century since the 1915 Gallipoli landings.
A 15-year old Briton – unnamed because of his age — and Sevdet Besim, a 19-year old Australian, were arrested for plotting to fill a kangaroo with explosives, paint an ISIS flag on its flank, then set it loose next to a group of police officers in order to kill as many of them as possible.
The two discussed the unusual plot on the Telegram messenger service. It was part of a larger series of terror attacks the two were planning to launch in Melbourne during the 25 April 2015 commemorative services for Anzac Day, held to mark a century since the 1915 Gallipoli landings. The event is held in honor of the Australian and New Zealander servicemen and women who took part in the landing.
NBC News reports that court papers show that Besim is charged with planning to use a car to run over and then behead a police officer. Court documents presented today (Thursday) by Melbourne Magistrates Court, show that he had written: “I’d love to take out some cops. I was gonna meet with them then take some heads.”
He and four co-conspirators were arrested in Melbourne on 18 April.
Prosecutors say that the summary of Telegram conversations between Besim and the British teenager indicate that “communications resume in the early hours of Thursday 20 March 2015 with an image being sent by BESIM with a comment of ‘look what I got ahaha’.
“The conversation continues with BESIM detailing what he did that day and they have a general discussion around animals and wildlife in Australia including a suggestion that a kangaroo could be packed with C4 explosive, painted with the Isis symbol and set loose on police officers.”
Besim allegedly also said he was “ready to fight these dogs on there (sic) doorstep” and “Main thing I guess is that I send the dog to hell.”
Police say Besim was motivated by extremism and had voiced support for ISIS. The court documents also say Besim conducted Internet searches in February 2015 including “Anzac day parade 2015,” “shrine of Remembrance,” and “Melbourne Anzac Day 2015.”
NBC News notes that Besim has pleaded not guilty to four charges relating to planning a terrorist attack. He faces a life sentence if convicted.
In Britain the 15-year-old from Blackburn was sentenced at Manchester Crown Court for his part in the Anzac Day plot. Judge John Saunders handed down a life sentence with no possibility of parole for five years. Judge Saunders said the teenager would be considered for release only if he was no longer posing a danger to the public.
