Teenager accused of several terrorist-style plots will spend the holidays on remand after not applying for bail

The teenager accused of plotting to carry out a mass shooting at his former high school and a university bombing will remain in police custody for Christmas.

Teenager accused of plotting several terror attacks, including a mass shooting and uni bombing to remain on remand.

A teenager accused of plotting a high school shooting spree, the bombing of a university and other violent public attacks will remain on remand throughout the Christmas period.

The 19-year-old, whose identity remains suppressed by the court for the safety of his alleged victims, fronted the Melbourne Magistrates’ Court on November 18 from police custody, on charges including four counts of possessing explosives, one count of failing to store long arm ammunition correctly and two counts of possession of explosive substances.

The court heard he had been in custody since his arrest in late September.

On November 11, the Moorabbin Magistrates’ Court heard an outline of the teen’s alleged offending, where police say he planned to carry out a shooting spree at his former high school, a university bombing, train derailment, police shootings and poisoning of public water supplies.

The man came to the attention of police in February after a tip off from the FBI about an alleged plot to manufacture a firearm for a high school shooting.

Australian Federal Police stopped a package allegedly addressed to the teen, containing chemicals and remote shock collars. Picture: Blake Foden

Police allege handwritten notes found in the teen’s bedroom outlined his violent intentions, alongside notes threatening the alleged targets, saying “they are all going to die for bullying and ignoring me”, and “this time I will not hold back”.

The court heard police were still examining a mobile phone seized during a raid to the teen’s family home as well as a package stopped by Australia Border Force officers that allegedly contained chemical ingredients often used for explosives, alongside remote shock collars — commonly used for dogs — which police informant detective Senior Constable Andrew Tucker from the counter-terrorism unit said “could be used as remote detonators”.

Christchurch shooting survivor Taj Mohammad Kamra outside the Al Noor Mosque one year anniversary on from the Christchurch massacre. Picture: Aaron Francis

Police also allege they found the live-streamed footage of the Christchurch mosque shooting, ISIS propaganda and videos “idolising” the Buffalo and Columbine school shooting perpetrators on the teen’s laptop.

Sen Constable Tucker said police feared the teen planned to carry out a similar attack after also finding a Go-Pro camera and a helmet harness similar to those used in the Christchurch attack.

In a filing hearing on Monday, the court heard the teen’s lawyer would not be making a fresh bail application ahead of the next court date, listed for late January, leaving the accused terror plotter in police custody over the Christmas period.

Magistrate Malcolm Thomas adjourned the case for committal mention on January 28.