Teen accused of plotting school shooting and university bombing allegedly wrote violent encrypted notes

A teen accused of plotting a school shooting and a university bombing allegedly wrote encrypted notes about attacking police and transgender people, a court has heard, as he sought bail.

The 19-year-old, who cannot be identified for legal reasons, is facing explosive-related charges. Picture: Supplied

A magistrate says “people might die” if he bailed a teenager accused of plotting terror attacks, including a school shooting and university bombing.

The 19-year-old, who cannot be identified for legal reasons, is facing explosive-related charges after he allegedly amassed gun parts, tactical gear and chemicals to manufacture deadly explosives which were uncovered in counter-terror raids following an FBI tip-off.

The teen sought bail for a second time at Melbourne Magistrates’ Court on Thursday, where his lawyer Julia Kretzenbacher argued her client was a young, vulnerable man who would be better placed to access rehabilitative treatment if he were released.

Prosecutors and police opposed the application, arguing the teenager posed an unacceptable risk to the community.

The teen, who has been in custody since his arrest, applied for bail at Melbourne Magistrates’ Court on Thursday. Picture: NewsWire / Diego Fedele

The court heard handwritten notes, some of which were encrypted, had been found in the teen’s prison cell as recently as Thursday morning, detailing plans to attack police, transgender people and “anti-Semitic Nazi-type documentation”.

Magistrate Malcolm Thomas reserved his decision but said the potential consequences of bailing the teen were “about as extreme as you can get”.

“The risk is far from hypothetical. The risk is something that seems to be a very real and likely risk but for intervention,” he said.

“If risk isn’t addressed for a month, two months, three months, people might die. That’s what we’re dealing with.”

Detective Senior Constable Andrew Tucker said the teen’s cell was raided after Corrections Victoria received information about the notes which had since been photographed and passed onto prosecutors.

The court heard threats had also been made against a prison officer.

Constable Tucker said detectives were particularly concerned about a delivery of chemicals which had not been found.

The teen’s father gave evidence in support of his son, saying if bail were granted he would ensure he was under 24-hour monitoring. Source: Getty

The court heard notes found at the teen’s home made references to “secret locations” where he conducted his work.

“We’re unsure if we’re going to find out where those are,” Constable Tucker said.

Earlier, the teen’s father told the court he was willing to place his son under 24-hour monitoring if he were granted bail.

He said he and his wife had already reduced their hours at work and he was planning to install security cameras inside their home, in addition to existing cameras outside.

The court heard the teen was supported by the NDIS and his family were seeking to engage a support worker.

Ms Kretzenbacher said it was her client’s first time in custody and he was particularly vulnerable due to his age and developmental conditions.

She said the teen had been held in protective custody since his arrest in September, and he was recently moved into isolation.

Police carried out four searches of the teen’s family home earlier this year following a tip-off from the FBI about an alleged plot to manufacture a firearm.

His home was raided with items including a bayonet, 500 bullets, metal parts for the creation of a firearm, precursor chemicals, a military style vest, helmet, gas mask and shooting range targets uncovered.

Handwritten notes allegedly outlined plans for chilling attacks including a shooting spree at his former high school, a university bombing, train derailment, police shootings and poisoning a public water supply.

An earlier bail application heard internet searches of mass shootings in the US including the Columbine High School massacre and the Christchurch mosque shooting were also allegedly found on the teen’s phone.

Mr Thomas will hand down his decision on Friday.