source : the age
An “isolated” Sydney teen allegedly downloaded extremist manuals on how to commit a mass casualty event and began plotting a terror attack, a court has heard.
The 16-year-old boy, who cannot be named for legal reasons, faced Surry Hills Children’s Court on Wednesday.
The court heard he downloaded a terror guide and a kill guide from an extremist group known to radicalise young people, which the Herald has chosen not to name, and began planning a violent attack. The nihilistic organisation has been linked to various school shootings plots overseas.
Police initially raided his inner west home in December, seizing a gel blaster, a flick knife, a phone and a laptop, after the boy allegedly made violent threats online. He was charged with weapons offences on December 10 and released on bail nine days later.
On Tuesday, the boy was further charged with collecting and making documents likely to facilitate a terrorist act, and two counts of possessing violent extremist material following a review of his electronic devices.
The Commonwealth prosecutor said the facts of the matter were “very serious”, particularly in light of his weapons charge.
‘[These] provide instructions on how to commit mass casualty events with various things, including knives.’
Commonwealth prosecutor
“[These] provide instructions on how to commit mass casualty events with various things, including knives,” he said.
Magistrate Keisha Hopgood said the charges and updated statement of facts provided “significantly more detail” than the earlier charges.
“The material that’s located on those devices significantly concerns the court,” she said.
Hopgood said that while the boy had admitted some of his behaviour may have been attention-seeking, there were also facts alleging planning, which added to her apprehension.
The boy sat passively in the dock as his new charges were read.
His Legal Aid children’s lawyer sought bail, arguing his previous bail conditions amounted to “home arrest” and that custody would be detrimental to his mental health conditions, including anxiety and depression, for which he is in counselling.
‘The material that’s located on those devices significantly concerns the court.’
Magistrate Keisha Hopgood
The defence also argued the teenager was not isolated, as alleged by police, and was being supported by his grandmother, mother, and other relatives who were present in court.
However, Hopgood denied him bail, saying she was concerned about the child’s alleged access to his mother’s mobile phone, which was in breach of his bail conditions, and about the supervision he was under at home.
He will next face court on April 1.
The raid came a day after the NSW Joint Counter Terrorism Team began investigating online posts allegedly threatening extremist violence. The JCCT comprises members from NSW Police, Australian Federal Police, the Australian Security Intelligence Organisation and NSW Crime Commission.
Gel blasters – often designed to mimic real pistols, but firing gel balls – are classed as firearms under NSW laws, and only permitted without a licence in Queensland.
The alleged offences carry up to 15 years’ imprisonment.
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Amber Schultz is a crime and justice reporter with The Sydney Morning Herald.Connect via X or email.
Jack Gramenz is a breaking news reporter at The Sydney Morning Herald.Connect via email.
