By JERUSALEM POST STAFF
A jury Monday convicted a Muslim cleric and five of his followers of forming a terrorist group in Australia that allegedly considered assassinating the prime minister and attacking major sporting events.
Four other men were found innocent of being members of the group and the jury was still deliberating on charges against two more, as verdicts were delivered in Australia's largest terrorist trial.
No attack took place, but prosecutors alleged that the group, based in Australia's second-largest city of Melbourne, intended to undertake "violent jihad," and identified railway stations and sports fields as possible targets.
During the long-running trial, prosecutors alleged the group had talked about launching an attack at a football final that attracts close to 100,000 people each year, or the Formula One Grand Prix race held annually in the southern city.
They also allegedly discussed killing former Prime Minister John Howard, who ordered Australian troops to join the US-led invasions of Afghanistan and Iraq.
if(catID != 151){
var cont = `Take Israel home with the new Jerusalem Post Store