Encrypted phone delays terrorism case

A man accused of plotting to stab a member of the public has had his case delayed so investigators can access thousands of messages on an encrypted phone.

Omar al-Kutobi is accused of planning a terrorist attack with his flatmate, Mohammad Kiad, before being arrested at the eleventh hour on February 10.

Central Local Court on Wednesday heard investigators had been having trouble getting "crucial" WhatsApp content from a witness's phone.

"Someone is going to go through and manually take pictures of each WhatsApp page," the crown prosecutor said. The matter has been adjourned until September.