'Youngest terrorist' faces Anzac parade plot sentence

A 15-year-old boy will appear in court for sentencing after he admitted encouraging an Islamic State-inspired terror attack targeting police officers at an Anzac Day parade in Australia.

Over a 10-day period, the youngster - then aged 14 - from Blackburn, Lancashire, sent thousands of instant messages to 18-year-old Sevdet Besim, from Australia, who shared his admiration for the terror group.

Police examined his mobile phone and uncovered the exchanges after he was arrested on April 2.

In one message on March 18, the boy said: ''I suggest you break into someone's house and get your first taste of beheading.''

In July, the teenager - thought to be Britain's youngest terrorist - pleaded guilty to inciting terrorism.

The charge stated that between March 15 and March 26 2015 he ''incited a person to commit an act of terrorism wholly or partly outside the UK, namely the murder of police officers during an attack on a parade to commemorate Anzac Day in Australia''.

Sentencing before Mr Justice Saunders at Manchester Crown Court is scheduled to last two days.

The judge had previously adjourned the case to find out if there had been "indoctrination" of the youngster, who cannot be named for legal reasons.

He said the sentencing process of someone of the defendant's age would be "extremely difficult".

No attack took place at the targeted parade in Melbourne on April 25.