2005 Sydney terrorism plot

Thwarted terror attack in 2005 in Sydney, Australia December 2019 The 2005 Sydney terrorism plot concerned a group of five men arrested in 2005 on charges of planning an act of terrorism targeting Sydney, Australia's most populous city and the capital of New South Wales. The group was found guilty on 16 October 2009 and were sentenced on 15 February 2010 for terms up to 28 years.Woods, Ian (15 February 2010) Terror Plot Gang Jailed In Australia Sky News. Retrieved 15 February 2010 Charges Khaled Cheikho, Moustafa Cheikho, Mohamed Ali Elomar, Abdul Rakib Hasan, and Mohammed Omar Jamal were arrested in various neighbourhoods of Sydney and were tried in the New South Wales Supreme Court over a terror-related plot they planned between July 2004 and November 2005. Each pleaded not guilty to charges of conspiring to commit a terrorist act or acts.http://news.ninemsn.com.au/article.aspx?id=664371 Terror accused 'desensitised' themselves 12 November 2008 17 October 2009 Nine News https://web.archive.org/web/20081119185255/http://news.ninemsn.com.au/article.aspx?id=664371 19 November 2008 dead The final cost of the trial is expected to be more than A$10 million.http://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/news/nsw-act/terror-nines-45m-legal-bill/story-e6freuzi-1111113527947 Terror Nine's A$4.5m legal bill Janet Fife-Yeomans Kelvin Bissett The Daily Telegraph Australia 17 May 2007 The Crown Prosecutor claimed that the men were motivated by a belief that Islam was under attack.https://www.theguardian.com/world/2007/mar/06/australia Australian terror suspects appear in court 'The Guardian 6 March 2007 17 October 2009 London The five allegedly had links to Abdul Nacer Benbrika, who is under arrest in Melbourne. Police searches of their homes discovered instructions on bomb-making, 28,000 rounds of ammunition (including 11,000 7.62×39mm), 12 rifles, militant Islamist literature, and footage of beheadings carried out by Islamists, and also of aircraft crashing into the World Trade Center on 11 September 2001. According to the prosecution, the men purchased explosive chemicals and guns between July 2004 and November 2005.https://www.usatoday.com/news/world/2008-11-11-796966386_x.htm Terror trial begins in Australia 11 November 2008 USA Today 17 October 2009 Neighbour, Sally http://www.theaustralian.com.au/news/features/anger-venom-and-hatred/story-e6frg6z6-1225830679024 Anger, venom and hatred 16 February 2010 The Australian 17 February 2010 Trial The men were put on trial late in 2008. Closing arguments were heard on 28 July 2009.Terrorism suspect's training camp link Malcolm Brown 28 July 2009 Brisbane Times http://www.brisbanetimes.com.au/national/terrorism-suspectx2019s-training-camp-link-20090727-dyrh.html The trial took place in a specially-built high-security court building in Sydney. Prosecutor Richard Maidment claimed that the five men wanted "violent jihad which involved the application of extreme force and violence, including the killing of those who did not share the fundamentalist... extremist, beliefs". Five men found guilty in Australia of terror plot https://www.reuters.com/article/asiaCrisis/idUSSP465220 Reuters Michael Perry 16 October 2009 16 October 2009 A mistrial was almost declared when the defence asked for the jury to be dismissed; it was discovered that a young woman, who was a relative of one of the accused, had been coming to court and reportedly writing down descriptions of the jurors. However, the jurors said it would not affect their deliberations and the judge allowed the trial to continue. Verdict and sentencing The five were found guilty on 16 October 2009. The trial was one of Australia's longest and involved approximately 300 witnesses and 3,000 exhibits, including 18 hours of telephone intercepts and 30 days of surveillance tapes, which has overtaken the record previously held by the liquidation of Bell Group.Sydney jihadists guilty of terrorism plot http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2009/10/16/2716000.htm https://web.archive.org/web/20091017131442/http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2009/10/16/2716000.htm dead 17 October 2009 16 October 2009 16 October 2009 Australia ABC News https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/australiaandthepacific/australia/6342351/Five-men-convicted-of-terror-plot-in-Australias-longest-trial.html Five men convicted of terror plot in Australia's longest trial The Telegraph Bonnie Malkin 16 October 2009 16 October 2009 Londonhttp://news.theage.com.au/breaking-news-national/bell-liquidators-awarded-15-billion-20090430-aoo6.html Bell liquidators awarded $1.5 billion 18 October 2009 30 April 2009 Melbourne The Age Outside the court, supporters of the five men shouted in protest and anger after they watched the ruling on an outdoor screen. The perpetrators were jailed on 15 February 2010 for terms ranging from 23 to 28 years, as follows:https://www.reuters.com/article/idUSTRE61E0W020100215 Five Australians jailed for jihad plot 15 February 2010 15 February 2010 Michael Perry Reutershttp://www.abc.net.au/news/2014-12-12/sydney-terrorism-convictions-appeal-dismissed/5963474 Sydney men lose appeal against 2009 terrorism convictions ABC News Australia Rice, Deborah 12 December 2014 16 September 2017 Khaled Cheikho 27 years Moustafa Cheikho 26 years Mohamed Ali Elomar 28 years Abdul Rakib Hasan 26 years Mohammed Omar Jamal 23 years In December 2014 before the New South Wales Court of Criminal Appeal, all five men lost an appeal against both their conviction and their sentences.http://www.smh.com.au/nsw/terrorist-conspiracy-five-sydney-cell-members-lose-conviction-sentencing-appeals-20141211-125lho.html Terrorist conspiracy: five Sydney cell members lose conviction, sentencing appeals The Sydney Morning Herald Olding, Rachel Hall, Louise 12 December 2014 16 September 2017 See also Australia Terrorism in Australia References Category:Failed terrorist attempts in Oceania Category:Islamic terrorism in Australia Category:Terrorist incidents in Oceania in 2005 Sydney Terrorism Plot, 2005 Category:Islam in Sydney Category:2005 crimes in Australia Category:Terrorist incidents in Australia in the 2000s