Three guilty of planning terror attack

A Victorian court has found three men guilty of planning a terrorist attack on an
Australian army base in Sydney.
Another two men who also stood trial over the alleged planned attack have been found
not guilty.
A Victorian Supreme Court trial, which has been running for three months, was told
the five men planned a shootout at the Australian Army Barracks at Holsworthy in the
belief Islam was under attack from the west.
The jury heard the men took steps to obtain a religious decree to endorse the attack
at the barracks and shoot as many people as possible until they were killed or
overwhelmed, to advance Islam.
Wissam Mahmoud Fattal, 34, of Melbourne, Saney Edow Aweys, 27, of Carlton North and
Nayef El Sayed, 26, of Glenroy were found guilty of conspiring to prepare for or
plan a terrorist act between February 1, 2009 and August 4, 2009.
Abdirahman Mohamud Ahmed, 26, of Preston, and Yacqub Khayre, 23, of Meadow Heights,
were found not guilty.
The jury deliberated for more than five days.
As jurors left the court following the verdict, Fattal said: "Islam is truth
religion. Thank you very much."
Justice Betty King released Khayre and Ahmed after both were acquitted.
Before they left the dock the men hugged their co-accused.
Justice King remanded Fattal, Aweys, and El Sayed in custody.
They will appear in court for a mention hearing on January 24.
Abdirahman Mohamud Ahmed told reporters he was very relieved following an anxious
wait for a verdict.
"I think justice has been served," he said.
When asked about the convictions of three of his co-accused, he replied: "It's
unfortunate but this is God's will. I just want to tell them to be patient. They'll
get out one day."
Mr Ahmed said he wanted to spend his day at home with his family.
"See my daughters. Been a long time," he said when asked of his plans.
Omer Shere, a representative of the Somali community, said the community had faith
in the justice system.
"We trust the system," he said.
Mr Shere said the two men's acquittal was a relief and their families were waiting
for them.