Melbourne: A man who converted to Islam pleaded guilty in an Australian court Tuesday to being part of a terrorist cell that planned to bomb landmarks in Australia`s
second largest city.
Shane Kent, 32, was charged with being a member of a terrorist organization and making a document connected with the preparation of a terrorist act. He pleaded guilty in the
Victoria state Supreme Court before his retrial was to begin today.
Another seven members of a Melbourne-based cell were convicted of terrorism-related offenses last year, but a jury had been unable to reach verdicts on Kent`s charges.
Kent was remanded in custody until he appears in court next on August 17 for sentencing.
The group`s leader, Algerian-born cleric Abdul Nacer Benbrika, 48, was sentenced in February to 15 years in prison for his role. He must serve at least 12 years behind bars.
Six of his followers were sentenced to prison terms ranging from four to seven and a half years.
Prosecutors said Benbrika urged his followers in 2004 and 2005 to launch an attack to force the Australian government to withdraw its troops from Afghanistan and Iraq. He told them an attack needed to kill at least 1,000 people to achieve this aim, and that it was permissible to kill women, children and the elderly.
Bureau Report
