THE gunman at the centre of a deadly Melbourne hostage drama had faced court over an Islamic terror plot to attack an Australian army base.
Yacqub Khayre has been confirmed by senior law enforcement and government figures as the man who was behind the fatal shootout in Brighton yesterday. Sources also say he was on parole.
The terrorist was shot dead by police after another man was found murdered, a woman was held hostage and Brighton was plunged into lockdown for two horrific hours.
Three police from the special operations group were injured in a gunfight which brought the Bay St apartment complex siege to an end.
Khayre was charged and later acquitted over a terror plot to launch a suicide attack against Sydney’s Holsworthy army barracks in 2009. Khayre later carried out a violent and terrifying home invasion which resulted in him being jailed for at least three years.
The court heard he carried out “gratuitous violence’’ on a young woman before punching and headbutting her father.
Read the full article by Genevieve Alison, Mark Buttler, James Dowling and Ryan Tennison at The Herald Sun (subscription only).