The men, one a Islamic cleric, were part of a group of 18 Muslims arrested in police raids in Melbourne and Sydney in November and charged with being members of a terrorist organisaton and/or plotting a terrorist attack.
Prosecutor Nick Robinson said police intercepted discussions between Muslim preacher Abdul Nacer Benbrika, 45, and Abdullah Me
rhi, where they discussed jihad, reported AAP.
Robinson said that in the conversation Merhi asked: "For example if John Howard kills innocent Muslim families do we...do we have to kill him and his family...his people
like at the football?"
Benbrika allegedly replied: "If they kill our kids we kill little kids". Merhi then said "innocent ones" and Benbrika replied "innocent ones", according to transcripts of the discussions read out in court, reported AAP.
Australian radio reported from the court that the prosecutor said the men also discussed killing police, and families at a football match, in revenge for the deaths of Muslim families.
