A JURY has today found Sydney architect Faheem Khalid Lodhi guilty of three terrorism-related charges. A seven-week trial in the New South Wales Supreme Court was told that in October 2003 the 36-year-old was planning a bombing attack, motivated by violent jihad. The national electricity supply system or three Sydney defence sites – Victoria Barracks, HMAS Penguin or Holsworthy Barracks – were his possible targets, the jury was told.
Lodhi inquired about chemicals capable of making explosives, and had instructions for making explosives, detonators and poisons, in preparation for a terrorist attack. He was also charged with acquiring two maps of the electricity grid and 38 aerial photographs of military sites connected with preparation for a terrorist act.
Lodhi, a Pakistani-born Australian citizen, denied the charges, rejecting as absurd allegations he was planning a terrorist attack, or that he believed in violent jihad.
| "Lies! All lies!" |
The jury of six men and six women spent five days deliberating before finding Lodhi guilty of three charges relating to the maps, chemical inquiries and instructions. However, he was acquitted of the fourth charge, with the jury finding he had not downloaded the aerial photographs for a purpose connected with terrorism.
Lodhi is the first person to be convicted of a charge of preparing for a terrorist act, an offence which carries a maximum life sentence. Justice Anthony Whealy remanded Lodhi in custody to face sentencing submissions on June 29.