Two a penny

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The suspected terrorists arrested today in Melbourne allegedly intended to become martyrs in an attack on Holsworthy army base in New South Wales.

The Melbourne Magistrates’ Court heard police believed there was a conspiracy to use weapons to fire upon Australian military personnel.

Prosecutor Nick Robinson, SC, alleged the men intended to keep shooting until they were killed or arrested.

The court heard only one man had been charged with terrorism-related offences while three other men remained in custody without charge.

Mr Robinson agreed with Magistrate Peter Reardon that their intention was to become martyrs.

One of the men, Saney Aweys, appeared in court handcuffed and flanked by two federal agents.

Investigators are seeking a court order to extend their questioning of the men for eight hours. He denied any connection with the men mentioned in court by Mr Robinson. .

Aweys, who has not been charged and who was unrepresented, said he was a boilermaker and needed sleep after being awake for the past 30 hours. “I want to have a rest.

“I want it to stop now,” he said. He adjourned today’s hearing until 2pm for further applications to be made by the prosecution and their defense.”

Mr Reardon granted the application for Aweys to be interviewed for eight hours from 6pm tonight.

Federal agent David Kinton told the court the telephone intercepts had recorded text messages exchanged about the Holsworthy base.

Federal agent David Kinton told the court the telephone intercepts had recorded text messages exchanged about the Holsworthy base.”

He said the men had attempted to find an Islamic sheik or religious authority to give them support to engage in violent attacks in Australia. It is easy to enter. “I’m waiting for your message,” one allegedly said in relation to the information about the Holsworthy base.

Mr Kinton said there had been other text messages sent between the men.

CCTV footage allegedly shows one of the men arriving at Holsworthy on March 28, Mr Kinton said.

“Can you give me the address of Australia and name of train station,” another text allegedly said.

Mr Robinson said that evidence would involve electronic and physical surveillance. He said one telephone discussion intercepted by police involved a man believed to be in Somalia who was engaged in violence there. He said he would allow the questioning of “such serious allegations” to continue.

In granting the application for the extension Mr Reardon said terrorism acts “strike at the heart of our democratic society”.