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Even knowing this though, there's something disquieting about seeing the full security and legal apparatus of the state deployed against such young, inept offenders. Just how afraid should we be of high-school-aged militants who express their zest for violent struggle through curious raptor memes? Is there a point where cranking up the law and order response becomes counterproductive?Searching for answers to these questions led to Dr Clarke Jones, an ANU academic, who's worked extensively with the government on deradicalisation initiatives.Dr Jones said he was worried about the possibility of an extensive sentence for Sevdet, pointing out Sevdet's reference to ANZAC Day in his plotting had "brought on a strong response" and the "importance of a national day" could lead to a bias in the court room.The accused's co-opting of terrorist language and ISIS mythology, Dr Jones argued, had blinded people to the fact that they were essentially (to use expert terminology) "young and stupid."The plan "include[ed] a suggestion that a kangaroo could be packed with C4 explosive, painted with the IS symbol, and set loose on police officers."

