Teen pleads guilty to terror charges

By LACHLAN MOORHEAD

THE 16-YEAR-OLD British girl linked to another UK teen implicated in the foiled terror plot allegedly targeting Anzac Day services in Melbourne’s south-east has pleaded guilty to two terror offences.
It comes as the terror charges against a Hampton Park teenager were this week dropped by the Australian Federal Police.
The teen girl, from Manchester, admitted the charges – including possessing recipes for explosives and a bomb-making guide – at the city’s magistrates’ court.
UK police were led to the girl after investigating a 15-year-old boy from Blackburn in Lancashire, who was held on 2 April in connection with the Australian terror plot.
The court heard that phone data retrieved by police showed the pair exchanged more than 2000 WhatsApp messages a day before being arrested, according to the BBC.
But no evidence was found that the girl was aware or played any part in the Anzac Day plot or any plan to harm others or incite terrorism in the UK or elsewhere, the court was told.
And a Hampton Park man is now out on bail and no longer facing terrorism charges for his alleged role in the Anzac Terror plot.
Officers on 20 April charged Harun Causevic, 18, with conspiracy to commit acts done in preparation for terrorist acts, following pre-dawn counter-terrorism raids throughout Casey on 18 April through Operation Rising.
But the Australian Federal Police and Victoria Police on Tuesday 25 August released a statement confirming that after assessing all available, admissible evidence, the Commonwealth Director of Public Prosecutions had decided there was insufficient evidence to continue the prosecution for this offence.
Later that day, Causevic was bailed at a Melbourne Magistrates’ Court hearing and his lawyer told the court he would plead guilty to three weapons offences.
The joint police statement said that in this case, officers took early action to ensure no threat to the community.