Teen fronts Melbourne court on terrorism charges

AN ODD picture is emerging of the 17yo boy accused of planning a terrorist attack in Melbourne as he fronts court for the first time.

Terror House

THE Melbourne teen arrested over an alleged terror bomb plot, possibly planned for Mother’s Day, is said to be a caring son and brother who was against the death cult Islamic State.

His family say he wasn’t a threat, while people who knew him in Melbourne’s northern suburbs say he was mature and of good character.

His sister has told of her family’s shock at his arrest and disbelief that he would be involved in any terrorist plot.

The 17-year-old has been remanded in custody, charged with engaging in an act in preparation or planning a terrorist act.

The teen who cannot be named for legal reasons, is alleged to have been planning a bomb attack, possibly at a Mother’s Day event yesterday, and is alleged to have written online rants that worried his friends.

The Herald Sun reported the teenager wrote if a Muslim dobbed in another Muslim to authorities they should “be prepared to be raised up with the kafirs (nonbelievers) on the day of judgment and be in hell forever”.

Forensic officers at the teenager’s home in Melbourne’s northern suburbs.

“Whether he has a bomb or not, he is still a Muslim, be it the worst Muslim, he is still your brother in faith,” the teenager allegedly wrote online.

His friends had become increasingly concerned in recent times about what they saw was his “radicalisation” and worried his mind had been “infested”by fools, the Herald Sun said.

The boy’s family told the Herald Sun the teen was “against’’ IS and had told them not to worry about his arrest because he had not done anything wrong.

His older sister said he should not be judged by his online ramblings, insisting that if “he was swaying to another way, I think we would know”.

It is a very different image from what friends of the family and those who live close are used to.

One businessman told The Age the teenager would always treat his mother with respect. “If someone older or a woman needed help from him, he would give it. He has a good character.”

Others spoke of a boy who wasn’t loud, and who didn’t have a girlfriend and didn’t go out very often.

Forensic crews search under a bridge near the house in the northern suburbs in relation to alleged terror plot.

Police will allege they found homemade bombs in the teenager’s home.

Little is known about the attack the teenager is accused to have been plotting.

Heavily-armed police arrested him on Friday, days after learning — reportedly via spy agency ASIO — of the threat he posed.

It was initially feared he could have been planning to denote crudely made explosives at a Mother’s Day event, but police yesterday said they weren’t aware of a specific event that had been targeted.

Acting Chief Commissioner Tim Cartwright said the alleged plot was to detonate explosives at a public event.

Police continue to investigate the scene of Friday's terrorist arrest.

“We do believe that the young man intended to explode a device at an event over the coming days,” he said.

Police have consistently said that “Victorian lives have been saved” because of the arrest — however key details of the police case against him may be kept secret for some time.

An application will reportedly be made to allow the teenager’s case to be heard in closed court — banning the public, media and possibly his family from attending.

Because of his age he will never be allowed to have his name published as there are very strict rules around reporting youth offending, even serious allegations like terrorism charges.

Originally published as Teen fronts Melbourne court on terrorism charges