ONE of the Sydney men accused of planning to seize a member of the public to behead live on camera was motivated by “an unusual level of fanaticism”, a Sydney court has heard. 
 
Court documents show Omarjan Azari, 22, is charged with conspiring with Mohammed Baryalei, understood to be the most senior Australian in the terrorist group Islamic State.

Mr Azari “did between 8 May and 18 September 2014 conspire with Mohammed Baryalei and others to do acts in preparation for, or planning, a terrorist act (or acts),” the documents allege.

If convicted, Mr Azari could face a life sentence.

He was among 15 people arrested this morning during the largest anti-terrorism operation in Australia’s history.

He later appeared in court, where commonwealth prosecutor Michael Allnutt said the accused had hatched plans designed to “shock” and “horrify” the community, and that they involved the “random selection of persons to rather gruesomely execute”.

“I don’t think I’ve seen much worse,” he told the court.
“There is access to cash, there is a background of people of similar views being able to leave the country and ... there is perhaps an unusual level of fanaticism in this particular matter, which will make a person less likely to take notice of a court’s order,” Mr Allnutt said.

“There’s a plan to commit extremely serious offences. It was done with the knowledge of police surveillance ... There was almost an irrational determination to commit that plan.”

Around 800 police and other security agency officers were involved in this morning’s raids across Sydney, launched after a telephone call was intercepted two days ago, the court heard.

“There has been an immediate reaction to a clear and imperative danger,” Mr Allnutt said.

Defence lawyer Steven Boland said the charge related to a single conversation.

“The allegation is based on one phone call,” Mr Boland said.

A large number of sheriffs guarded Mr Azari in the dock before his lawyer requested he be returned to the cells.

Mr Azari did not apply for bail and it was formally refused before he was whisked from the court in a two-car convoy.

He was seen leaving court in an orange jumpsuit with his head down between his legs in an unmarked 4WD. A corrections officer was in the front passenger seat holding a pump-action shotgun.

Mr Azari will return to court in November.

An arrest warrant was issued last week for Mr Baryalei for alleged terrorist activities.

His parents have told the ABC that their son is living peacefully in Turkey.

We have no choice but to trust the authorities are doing the right thing to protect us from Muslims.