Lawyers for one of two Melbourne teenagers who allegedly plotted to run down a police officer on Anzac Day, behead him, and steal his weapon for a suicidal rampage want him released from custody so he can be counselled.
Defence barrister Michael O'Connell has told a bail application for Harun Causevic, 18, the case against the Hampton Park man was "far more limited" than allegations against his co-accused Sevdet Ramden Besim, 18, of Hallam.
Mr O'Connell said two Islamic community leaders and one mental health professional would counsel, guide and mentor Causevic, who has the unconditional support of his family, if he was released.
Causevic's father cried as his son was brought into the Melbourne Magistrates Court on Tuesday on the charge of conspiring to commit a terrorist act.
Police allege Causevic and Besim were trying to get passports and that Besim had contact details for people with links to Islamic State in Syria and Iraq.
If they were unable to get passports they planned to carry out an attack in Melbourne, prosecutor Andrew Doyle told the court.
Anzac terror plot planned for 'maximum impact'
The plot, which allegedly involved running down a police officer with a car, beheading him and stealing his weapon, was planned for Anzac day for maximum impact, he said.
Both men had weapons and a pledge of allegiance to the leader of IS on their phones, Mr Doyle said.
Magistrate Suzie Cameron was told Causevic applied for a passport on March 2, and after he called to check on its progress became aggressive, saying the federal police and ASIO were "dogs" and "little s***s".
Federal police officer Denis Scott read to the court examples of a discussion between Besim and a 14-year-old UK boy, who is also facing terror-related charges.
During their communications, Besim allegedly indicated he had access to a machete.
The UK boy allegedly responded: "Sharpen that as hard as you can, then run police over and decapitate".
Besim allegedly replied: "That sounds like a plan", Mr Scott told the court.
However Mr O'Connell said there was no evidence Causevic had been privy to these discussions.
"There's no evidence that's been communicated to him in anyway."
Mr Scott said police believe both accused teenagers were involved in the plot.
"The applicant does indicate he's 'on-board' with the intentions between the co-accused and himself," Mr Scott told the court.
Proving intent difficult
While authorities may have someone on a watch list, terror expert Greg Barton told SBS it is notoriously hard for police to prove their intent to launch an attack.
"You can't just charge somebody with thought crimes, you have to have clear evidence that they were planning to do something. And that is the challenge of counter-terrorism operations," he said.
"Police conduct a number of raids.... but the numbers charged are relatively small because it's very very hard to prove somebody's intent before they've done something.
"For all of our fears of a big brother state and police powers, it's actually very hard for police to stop
these sorts of things, particularly in a democratic society."
The bail application continues in the Melbourne Magistrates Court.
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