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| Melbourne jury convicts militants | Melbourne jury convicts militants |
| (40 minutes later) | |
| A Muslim cleric and five of his followers have been convicted of belonging to a terrorist group which allegedly planned attacks in Australia. | A Muslim cleric and five of his followers have been convicted of belonging to a terrorist group which allegedly planned attacks in Australia. |
| A jury in Melbourne found Abdul Nacer Benbrika guilty of leading the group. | A jury in Melbourne found Abdul Nacer Benbrika guilty of leading the group. |
| The cell was accused of planning to stage "violent jihad", targeting the prime minister and major sports events. | The cell was accused of planning to stage "violent jihad", targeting the prime minister and major sports events. |
| Four other men were acquitted. Charges are pending against two others, in what is being described as Australia's biggest-ever terrorism trial. | Four other men were acquitted. Charges are pending against two others, in what is being described as Australia's biggest-ever terrorism trial. |
| During the long-running trial, prosecutors had argued that the group planned to attack a grand football match that attracts nearly 100,000 people every year in Melbourne. | |
| The cell was also accused of plotting to assassinate former Prime Minister John Howard, who had authorised the deployment of Australian troops to Iraq and Afghanistan. | |
| No attacks took place. All 12 men had pleaded not guilty. |