A man who planned a New Year’s Eve terrorist attack in Melbourne’s Federation Square three years ago has been sentenced to 10 years in prison.
Supreme Court Justice John Champion ordered Ali to serve a non-parole period of seven-and-a-half years for the terror and horror he planned
The court heard Ali tried to buy an AK-47 assault rifle from gun suppliers in 2017, who turned out to be undercover Australian Federal Police officers
Ali renounced the Islamic State group during his plea hearing last year
Ali Khalif Shire Ali, 23, pleaded guilty in May last year to one charge of preparing a terrorist attack. Police thwarted the plans, arresting him in November 2017 after a covert operation lasting a number of months.
Ali is the brother of Hassan Khalif Shire Ali, who in November 2018 crashed a car full of gas cylinders in Bourke Street in Melbourne’s CBD before stabbing three people, killing cafe owner Sisto Malaspina.
The court heard Ali had originally planned to use a truck in the planned New Year’s Eve attack, but his driver’s licence was cancelled.
He also contemplated knife attacks and making a bomb before deciding to buy an automatic weapon.
Supreme Court Justice John Champion ordered Ali to serve a non-parole period of seven and a half years for the terror and horror he had planned to achieve his twisted religious and political objective. Justice Champion described the plot as a random and despicable act.
