Two brothers accused of lighting summer bushfires north of Melbourne were allegedly motivated by terrorist ideology, with one filming himself pledging allegiance to Islamic State and vowing to burn Australian families alive.
In videos played to the jury, a man said to be Aran Sherani is seen standing in bushland at Humevale wearing a face covering on February 18, 2021. “To the kafir may this fire burn you and your family may you all suffer, may you all die. Now is the time my brothers,” Aran Sherani recorded himself saying.The jury heard the Humevale fire was lit about 3.20pm on a 26-degree day and within 300 metres of residential homes. The second fire was ignited when the temperature was about 27 degrees, and came within 225 metres of nearby homes.
On those allegedly belonging to the younger brother, police found internet searches that spoke of dying young, jihad and about Sydney’s Lindt cafe terror siege. Barrister Patrick Doyle, SC, said while his client Aran Sherani lit bushfires, his sole intention in making the videos was not to stage an attack on home soil, but to get a member of IS to help him travel overseas to fight for the Kurdish people.
Australia Latest News, Australia Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
Victorian jury shown videos of man pledging allegiance to Islamic State, lighting firesBrothers Aran and Ari Sherani are on trial for terror-related offences, with prosecutors alleging they were motivated by extremist religious ideology when they planned to light deadly bushfires on Melbourne's outskirts in 2021.
Read more »
Australia’s leading Islamic body refuses to condemn pro-Palestine rallyAustralia’s leading Islamic advocacy body has refused to condemn a pro-Palestine rally in Sydney which praised terrorists who murdered more than 700 Israelis.
Read more »
Brothers accused of terror-fuelled bushfires filmed vow to burn citiesThe pair accused of lighting bushfires in the name of terror group Islamic State were living at home with their parents in Epping at the time of their alleged offences.
Read more »
Brothers accused of terror-fuelled bushfires filmed vow to burn citiesThe pair accused of lighting bushfires in the name of terror group Islamic State were living at home with their parents in Epping at the time of their alleged offences.
Read more »
State reacts to 64 crashes on notorious roadA deadly crash that took the lives of two young boys has prompted the NSW government to put more speed cameras on a notorious road for hoons.
Read more »
Everyday item banned from state’s schoolsA statewide ban on mobile phones in public high schools has begun in NSW to mark the start of term 4.
Read more »