SA Police counter-terror police launch new phase in the hunt for Glenunga International High School threats culprit
Bizarre details – including images of a tortured spider – have been shared about threats to bomb and boil students, in a police bid to find the culprit.
Police investigating long-running threats made against the Glenunga International High School community have released a slab of intel on the culprit in a bid to finally catch them.
Deputy Commissioner Linda Williams on Monday took the extraordinary step of releasing a wealth of intelligence – including when and how the threats were being made, common phrases used, and images and handwriting samples – that investigators had gained on the suspect.
The threats – including ones to attack, bomb and boil students at the school – have been coming in since November last year.
A man, 18, whose identity was suppressed, was arrested in May and charged with two counts of blackmail and one count of making it appear goods had been, or were about to be, contaminated.
But all charges were dropped against that man in September after the threats continued to come while he was in custody.
Ms Williams revealed the threats were coming from someone using the alias ‘Brian Cole’ and were being sent from a shared computer most weeknights after 9pm between November 19, 2024 and May 13, 2025.
The computer that was being used had the gaming platform Steam on it, and the game Black Myth; Wukong.
The behaviour changed around mid-May when police suspect ‘Brian Cole’ had a change in living circumstances and reduced access to a computer.
But the threats returned, sometimes with gaps of three weeks and reducing to weekly, and sent after 9pm.
Ms Williams said the investigation was complex and a high priority, with Australian Federal Police also involved.
“This has been an incredibly dynamic investigation that has been technically complicated,’’ she said.
“A number of persons of interest have been identified in the investigation as it has evolved.
“We are now taking the step of asking the school community and the public to assist us by sharing some details of the investigation.”
A handful of images and the culprit’s handwriting were also released by police in the event they are recognisable to anyone.
One image is of a spider incorporated into the school logo and another depicting the logo constructed of the spider’s broken legs.
A third image is of two common pantry condiments – maple syrup and honey – pictured with a handwritten note.
“We are sharing these details with the school community and the wider public in the hope that someone may know this person or know someone who knows this person,” Ms Williams said.
“Any information we receive may be a vital piece to this puzzle and help identify this person.
“With the resources we have dedicated to this investigation I am confident we will identify this individual.
“I would also appeal directly to this individual to consider their position and contact a lawyer and initiate contact with police.’’
Ms Williams revealed demands had been made by the individual since May this year.
On Monday, police security officers were spotted doing regular patrols of the school’s perimeter.
Staff members were also seen walking outside the school on L’Estrange St.
Despite the persisting threat, students could be seen roaming around the campus throughout the afternoon.
One parent, who wished to remain anonymous, was disappointed by the lack of detail in the recent email but said it was “better to send that than nothing at all.”
Another parent, who also wished to remain anonymous, said that police presence at the school had made them feel safer.
“I’ve never felt that my kids are unsafe here,” she said.
“It’s good to see police being proactive … They’re doing what they have to do.”
Police could not reveal whether the individual was believed to be a student or former student, other than that they “seem to have strong links to the school”.
Police hope that a student at the school may recognise some of the phraseology or handwriting of the individual.
“There’s a strong possibility someone may be able to recognise (the individual) from the language used or the images, something, in their mind, they may be able to associate with the person,” Ms Williams said.
It is also not yet clear if the person is acting alone.
SA Police officers are addressing Glenunga International High School students about the next phase in the ongoing investigation across three assemblies on Monday.
Education Department chief executive Martin Westwell also wrote to the school community on Monday to advise police were addressing staff and students, and urging help to find the culprit.
“Your help could be vital in resolving this matter and keeping our community safe,” he said.
“Police will remain at the school this week and are available to speak with anyone who may have relevant information.
“School support services are also available to you and your child at any time.”
Police and education minister Blair Boyer affirmed his support for “these renewed efforts from SAPOL.”
“We have only two weeks left of school … but from my perspective as both minister for police and minister for education, the thing I don’t want is for this to be hanging over the school community’s heads endlessly,” he said.
“We would like to get to a resolution here, find who is doing it so it can be stopped and we can offer a bit of certainty to the Glenunga International High School community going forward.”
In response to the threats, security measures were put in place in February, including police and security patrols, extra cameras and bright orange bollards installed to protect the school entrances.
Though the bollards had since been removed, security had recently been seen patrolling the campus.
Afer the 18-year-old’s arrest in May, Premier Peter Malinauskas called it one of the state’s most significant police operations – a lengthy investigation involving more than 100 local officers, ASIO and the AFP.
In September, a decision was made to drop all charges against the teen previously accused of making the threats.
He had been charged with two counts of blackmail and one count of making it appear goods had been, or were about to be, contaminated.
It was also previously alleged that within emails he called himself “the prophet of justice” and demanded $23 million in exchange for not carrying out the threats.
The teen’s lawyer, James Caldicott of Caldicott and Isaacs Lawyers, said the charges were always “speculative” and made before the teenager’s devices had been fully explored.
