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| Anzac Day terror plot: Blackburn teenager admits inciting attack | Anzac Day terror plot: Blackburn teenager admits inciting attack |
| (about 2 hours later) | |
| A teenager from Blackburn has admitted involvement in a terror plot targeting police at an Anzac Day remembrance parade in Australia. | |
| The 15-year-old pleaded guilty to one count of inciting terrorism by encouraging the murder of police officers during the event in Melbourne in April. No attack ever took place. | |
| The boy appeared at the Old Bailey via video link from Manchester Crown Court, speaking only to enter his plea. | |
| He cannot be named for legal reasons. | He cannot be named for legal reasons. |
| 'Enthusiasm for attack' | 'Enthusiasm for attack' |
| The Old Bailey heard the boy, who was 14 at the time, sent thousands of instant messages to 18-year-old Sevdet Besim in Australia over a 10-day period in March. | The Old Bailey heard the boy, who was 14 at the time, sent thousands of instant messages to 18-year-old Sevdet Besim in Australia over a 10-day period in March. |
| They both supported the Islamic State militant group, also known as IS or Isis, the court was told. | They both supported the Islamic State militant group, also known as IS or Isis, the court was told. |
| The boy sent a message to the older teenager suggesting he got his "first taste of beheading," prosecutor Paul Greaney QC said, to which Besim replied that this seemed "risky". | The boy sent a message to the older teenager suggesting he got his "first taste of beheading," prosecutor Paul Greaney QC said, to which Besim replied that this seemed "risky". |
| Anzac Day, held on 25 April each year, commemorates the Australian and New Zealand Army Corps' World War One battle in Gallipoli, with this year marking its centenary. | Anzac Day, held on 25 April each year, commemorates the Australian and New Zealand Army Corps' World War One battle in Gallipoli, with this year marking its centenary. |
| The boy was initially arrested on 2 April in connection with an alleged plan to stage an attack in Melbourne and was detained again after officers examined electronic devices and discovered his communications with a man in Australia. | The boy was initially arrested on 2 April in connection with an alleged plan to stage an attack in Melbourne and was detained again after officers examined electronic devices and discovered his communications with a man in Australia. |
| Outlining the case, Mr Greaney said: "Those messages reveal the intentions of the plotters and their targets, along with their motivation which may be summarised as support for Isis and their enthusiasm for the attack. | Outlining the case, Mr Greaney said: "Those messages reveal the intentions of the plotters and their targets, along with their motivation which may be summarised as support for Isis and their enthusiasm for the attack. |
| "The messages also set out the plotters' preparations for the attack. On 18 March 2015, as part of those preparations, the defendant sent Sevdet Besim a message that read, 'suggest you break into someone's house and get your first taste of beheading'. | "The messages also set out the plotters' preparations for the attack. On 18 March 2015, as part of those preparations, the defendant sent Sevdet Besim a message that read, 'suggest you break into someone's house and get your first taste of beheading'. |
| "Sevdet Besim responded to say that this seemed 'a little risky' and that aspect of the preparations appears then to have drifted away." | "Sevdet Besim responded to say that this seemed 'a little risky' and that aspect of the preparations appears then to have drifted away." |
| That exchange was the subject of a second charge, of inciting terrorism overseas in relation to beheading a person in Australia, which has now been dropped by the prosecution. | That exchange was the subject of a second charge, of inciting terrorism overseas in relation to beheading a person in Australia, which has now been dropped by the prosecution. |
| Mr Greaney said the charge was deleted as the prosecution was dealing with it as "part and parcel" of the offence in count one. | Mr Greaney said the charge was deleted as the prosecution was dealing with it as "part and parcel" of the offence in count one. |
| Judge Mr Justice Saunders ordered pre-sentence reports to find out if the boy had been indoctrinated. | Judge Mr Justice Saunders ordered pre-sentence reports to find out if the boy had been indoctrinated. |
| He said: "I want some assessment of how and why it occurred and what measures could be taken in order to reverse that process. | He said: "I want some assessment of how and why it occurred and what measures could be taken in order to reverse that process. |
| "Dealing with someone of this age is an extremely difficult sentencing process and I will need all the help I can get." | "Dealing with someone of this age is an extremely difficult sentencing process and I will need all the help I can get." |
| The teenager, being held in a youth detention centre, will be sentenced in Manchester on 3 September. | The teenager, being held in a youth detention centre, will be sentenced in Manchester on 3 September. |