Jordan Patten’s letter to family revealed as he is charged with terror offence over alleged plot to kill Labor MP Tim Crakanthorp

The Prime Minister has fought back tears as he revealed his family were alleged targets in a teenager’s alleged terror plot.

Anthony Albanese has teared up as he spoke about the twisted manifesto of the alleged teenage terror suspect, revealing his family were alleged targets.

While speaking at a press conference on Friday morning, Mr Albanese fought back tears as he revealed his family were alleged targets mentioned in the manifesto.

The PM teared up as he spoke about the twisted manifesto. Picture: NewsWire / Martin Ollman

“There is no place for extremism in Australia. That documentation that was made is very concerning, including threats not just to Labor MPs but to others, to my family,” he said.

“That’s another reason why families … should be off limits from the media, frankly, something that is of concern, a very direct threat. I applaud the security agencies and the police for the swift action that they undertook.”

‘MEANT FOR ANOTHER WORLD’

It was 12.20pm when teenager Jordan Patten got into a taxi with terror allegedly on his mind.

His alleged target was Newcastle MP Tim Crakanthorp, with Patten filing a 205-page manifesto to media outlets and ministerial offices during the 40-minute trip from Raymond Terrace to Newcastle citing his extreme hatred for Labor politicians.

Police allege that along with his plan to kill Mr Crakanthorp set firmly in his mind were five knives, a ballistics vest and helmet and a GoPro camera to help him carry out his murderous plot while streaming it live online.

And the only evidence of the 19-year-old’s alleged intentions he left behind was a handwritten note to his mother.

“I don’t know where I am right now. I could be in jail or dead and I don’t know why I did what I did,” Patten is alleged to have written in the note. To me this life seems pointless. I am meant for another world.

A teenager who allegedly walked into a Labor MP’s office rather with knives and a ballistic vest has been charged with terrorism offences.

Tim Crakanthorp.

“Sometimes I don’t think any of what I’m doing is real. If I do commit the crimes then I must die. There is no life here for me.”

But Patten didn’t die.

Police facts allege he walked into a cubicle in a cafe attached to Newcastle’s Civic Theatre, donned his apparel, turned on the camera and briefly looked at himself in a mirror.

The nine-minute video alleged to have been filmed by Patten also showed him hiding a large kitchen knife behind a backpack he was carrying in one hand, with other weapons including knives and a saw in his ballistics vest.

It allegedly showed him walking across busy Hunter St and into Mr Crakanthorp’s office as other people walked past oblivious to his presence.

But within seconds of entering the politician’s office, he retreated, walked around a corner to Newcastle Museum and was confronted by brave employees as a family with a small child quickly got out of his way.

“You can’t walk around like that,” one staff member is heard to say in the video.

“You need to leave [because you’re] dressed like that, sir.

“Get outside for us, please.”

Police allege Patten then walked out of the museum where he filmed the large knife before the live stream ended.

He was arrested near the museum by police at 1.35pm – just 75 minutes after he left home.

Counter terrorism detectives later charged Patten with one Commonwealth count of other acts done in preparation for, or planning, for a terrorist act.

Court documents alleged that between 10am and 2pm, Patten attended Mr Crakanthorp’s office “with intent to kill him due to his position in the Labor Party, in preparation for planning a terrorist act”.

An image, taken before the video, shows the ballistics vest, knife, hammer and a saw laid out on a bed.

Police facts alleged that sections of Patten’s manifesto detailed his “extreme hatred” for the Labor Party and “his intentions to kill” Labor politicians.

They further allege Patten admitted in an interview with detectives after his arrest that he had attended Mr Crakanthorp’s office with the intention of killing him because he was a Labor MP.

He also allegedly admitted to being the author of the manifesto, which also included anti-Semitic ravings.

The Daily Telegraph can reveal Patten’s mother told police that he had become very interested in watching Nazi videos on YouTube in the past few months.

When Patten briefly faced court on Thursday, magistrate Anthony Spence suggested there were “strong overtones” of mental health issues after reading the police facts.

Patten’s aunt later said outside the family home that her nephew was autistic while other members of the teenager’s family expressed their shock at his alleged actions.

“I just want to express our sincere apology to members of the community who were there and witnessed it,” Patten’s older brother said.

A search warrant at Patten’s home allegedly seized a draft of the manifesto on a laptop, the handwritten notes, and packaging for the gloves, hamlet, Go-Pro and vest allegedly worn by Patten.

Newcastle Museum staff said they were unable to comment and a statement from City of Newcastle council said “all staff and community members” in the building at the time of “significant incident” remained safe and unharmed.

“We thank our staff for their professionalism and bravery and NSW Police for their quick response,” the council statement said.

“The wellbeing of staff is of the utmost importance to the City of Newcastle, and we are providing support to all those who need it in the wake of the incident.”

Patten only briefly faced court on Thursday via audio visual link.

He sat passively in a black T-shirt while legal aid solicitor Martin Vazquez told the court that Patten would not be making any release application.

No pleas were required to be entered and Mr Spence formally remanded Patten in custody to reappear in court on August 21.

Mr Crakanthorp said in a statement on Thursday that he wished to thank “everyone who has reached out at this troubling time”.

“My staff and I are all safe and unharmed,” he said.

“This is a very serious incident. I thank NSW Police for their prompt and effective response.

“I also want to thank the Newcastle Museum staff for their bravery and exceptional management of the situation.”

HIGH LEVEL SECURITY DISCUSSIONS

High-level security discussions have taken place between police and politicians in the wake of a teenager being arrested and charged after allegedly intending to kill Newcastle MP Tim Crakanthorp.

Premier Chris Minns on Friday revealed discussions over security had taken place between police and government figures following the incident, but declined to detail what they were.

“I am aware of police and law enforcement agencies conducting inquiries and communicating with my office and other MPs, but I’m not able to … disclose what they are,” Mr Minns said.

The Premier said he had spoken to Mr Crakanthorp in the wake of the incident and that he was “pretty shaken up”.

He said it was difficult to protect politicians and other political figures around the clock given their high level of exposure with the public and strangers.

“I think it’s a reminder that members for Parliament … have to put themselves out there, it’s important they go out and see their community. It’s very difficult to protect a MP, or a political leader or a local mayor regardless of their political affiliation because a big part of the job is meeting your constituents,” he said.

“This is not what we want to see in a state like NSW, fortunately, it’s not common in this state, but if we did need to make changes by talking to Parliament or New South Wales Police of course, we will, but we’re not able to design a perfect system because I (think) every MP (sees) it as a crucial part of their job to meet strangers (and) to get out into the community.”

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Originally published as Jordan Patten’s letter to family revealed as he is charged with terror offence over alleged plot to kill Labor MP Tim Crakanthorp