British teen admits inciting terror attack

A 15-year-old British boy has admitted encouraging an Islamic State-inspired terror attack targeting police officers at an Anzac Day parade in Australia.

Over a 10-day period, the youngster from Lancashire sent thousands of instant messages to 18-year-old Sevdet Besim, who shared his admiration for the Islamic terror group, the Old Bailey heard. Police examined his mobile phone and uncovered the exchanges after he was arrested on April 2.

In one message on March 18, the boy, who was 14 at the time, said: “Suggest you break into someone’s house and get your first taste of beheading.” Besim replied that it seemed “a little risky”.

The British youngster pleaded guilty to inciting terrorism. The charge states that between March 15 and March 26, 2015 he “incited a person to commit an act of terrorism wholly or partly outside the UK, namely the murder of police officers during an attack on a parade to commemorate Anzac Day in Australia”.

Prosecutor Paul Greaney QC said: “

The evidence of this plot derives from literally thousands of instant messages between the defendant and Sevdet Besim recovered from the defendant’s mobile telephone.

“Those messages reveal the intentions of the plotters and their targets, along with their motivation which may be summarised as support for Isis and their enthusiasm for the attack.”

Mr Justice Saunders ordered pre-sentence reports to find out if there was any “indoctrination” as he adjourned the case for sentencing at Manchester Crown Court on September 3.