Girl, 15, pleads guilty to possessing extremist material, instructions to make bombs

An “unusual girl with unusual interests” has told a court she downloaded “graphic, horrific” extremist videos because she wasn’t allowed to listen to music.

A teenage girl who downloaded extremist videos ranging in severity from “basic propaganda” through to “graphic, horrific acts on people” did so because her family would not let her listen to music, a court has heard.

The 15-year-old southern suburbs girl, who cannot legally be identified, is just an “unusual girl with unusual interests” according to her lawyer, but on Wednesday confessed she had collected 21 videos supporting the likes of Islamic State and Hamas.

In the Adelaide Youth Court, the young girl spoke only to answer charges she had possession of extremist material.

However, before she could do so, prosecutors told Magistrate Kathryn Hodder they would be withdrawing all but two charges of the original 35 she was originally facing.

The 15-year-old girl leaves the Adelaide youth court after facing court on charges of possessing explosive instructions and extremist material Picture: NCA NewsWire / Kelly Barnes

In March last year, the girl was arrested by Counter Terrorism Police after her brother found concerning videos on her mobile phone.

They later seized that phone, along with her school-issued laptop, and located 21 videos across both devices.

At her last court hearing earlier this month, her counsel said it was likely the case would resolve with the majority of the charges consolidating into just two.

On Wednesday, she formally pleaded guilty to one count each of possessing a document or record containing information of a crime likely to be of practical use to a person committing or preparing for a terrorist act, and possessing extremist material.

The court heard the 15-year-old, who was just 14 at the time of her arrest, had, between March 6 and 9 2024, possessed the extremist material.

“Her phone was seized by police for forensic examination, which revealed six videos. One of the videos depicts a person manufacturing an explosive device. It depicts a person suspected of being a supporter of Islamic State,” the prosecutor said.

“They are dressed in military attire, providing instruction on how one might manufacture an explosive device. It is 15 minutes in length, not in English, but it is subtitled.”

He said there were a further five videos on her phone depicting propaganda for Islamic State and Hamas.

“The videos vary in severity from some simply glorifying or attempting to recruit persons, and others show quite graphic or horrific acts undertaken.”

On her laptop, which belonged to her school, police located a further 16 videos, ranging in nature from “what appears not as serious, to horrific acts being undertaken by people”.

Andrew Williams, lawyer for the 15-year-old girl, said his client was young and naive. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Kelly Barnes

Andrew Williams, for the girl, told the court that his client never had any intention to carry out any terrorist act, and had no interest in the material itself – she simply wanted to listen to the “Nasheed” that was played in the background.

The court heard a Nasheed is like a religious hymn or chant, comparable to a cappella, and that the teen was listening to the videos because her family had banned her from listening to music.

“She told (a therapist) that it is a kind of loophole,” Mr Williams said. “It is not forbidden”

He said the teen also had an interest in war and other countries and that she had recently been diagnosed with Autism.

“She didn’t watch all of the footage, she didn’t really have much of an interest in it.

“This is a young, naive, innocent girl with autism. We say the safety of the community would best be served without conviction.”

The girl will return to court next month.