Muslim student refuses to stand in court as she faces charges over an Islamic State inspired stabbing attack

A Bangladeshi student accused of stabbing her Melbourne home-stay host in an attack inspired by the Islamic State has refused to enter a plea or stand for the Magistrate.

Momena Shoma, 25, faced Melbourne Magistrates Court today charged with engaging in a terrorist act and attempted murder.

The international student is accused of stabbing 56-year-old Roger Singaravelu in the neck in February just two days after arriving at his Mill Park home, 9News reported.

It’s alleged Shoma entered his bedroom while he was sleeping and used a kitchen knife to stab him in the neck.

Mr Singaravelu five-year-old daughter was witness to the attack.

‘(Shoma) was on her knees with both of her hands on a knife that was in my neck… her eyes were so intense, she was saying ‘Allahu Akbar’, she kept on saying this over and over,’ Mr Singaravelu told the court.

The 56-year-old suffered a crushed vertebra and a number of cuts in the alleged attack.

Although he suffered significant injuries he managed to overpower his victim and call police.

Shoma had only been in Melbourne for a week and told police after her arrest that when she arrived in the country she had no intention of studying, but ‘planned to attack someone on behalf of IS.’

She told police she had been watching online videos posted by the Islamic State and it is believed she self-radicalised.

‘I just felt obligated and it was like a burden on me, yeah I just had to do it,’ she told detectives while being questioned after the attack.

Shoma refused to enter a plea or stand for Magistrate Sarah Dawes.

Her lawyers have indicated that their client will likely plead guilty once a deal has been finalised with the prosecution.

She is facing life in prison.

Source: Daily Mail