Melbourne man, 19, has cell raided amid allegations he plotted terror acts, court told
Notes scribbled on paper and the walls of a teenager’s prison cell allegedly detail threats to attack police and transgender people, a court has been told.
The prison cell of a Melbourne teenager who allegedly plotted a series of terrorist attacks across the city has been raided as he appeared in court.
The 19-year-old, who cannot be named for legal reasons, appeared in the Melbourne Magistrates’ Court on Thursday morning as he launched a bid to be freed on bail.
He was supported in court by his parents.
The court was told a search warrant had been executed on the teen’s cell in protective custody amid concerns reported by prison officers.
Detective Senior Constable Andrew Tucker said items, including notes, cell scribblings and an unspecified “object”, were seized and being reviewed by specialist police.
“We’re seeking notes he’s made in prison surrounding attacks against police and transgender people, along with anti-Semitic Nazi-type documentation,” he said.
The court was told the teenager had an entitlement to bail unless prosecutors could satisfy magistrate Malcolm Thomas that the 19-year-old posed an unacceptable risk.
Defence lawyer Julia Kretzenbacher argued her client was a young, vulnerable man in custody for the first time with parents who were prepared to impose “very strict” measures to control him once released.
She said the man, who is diagnosed with autism, had been approved for NDIS funding.
The man’s father told the court that he and his wife would reduce work hours to make sure he was under supervision at all times.
He said he would ban phones, supervise computer use, install cameras inside their house and report any bail breaches.
“Since February he tends to be very dull and concentrate on his phone,” he said.
“If he can focus on the good, he will do very well.”
Prosecutor Debra Coombs told the court that bail was opposed, with police alleging the teen poses an unacceptable risk to the safety of the community if released.
“He didn’t stop his behaviour after his first interaction with police, he’s just tried to hide it more,” she alleged.
The young man came to the attention of police in February this year after a tip-off from the FBI that he was allegedly searching for information on how to manufacture firearms and how to get away with a school shooting.
Police raided the home the same month, allegedly uncovering plans for firearms and explosives, 500 bullets and metal items used to construct a firearm.
Handwritten notes allegedly detail plans for a mass shooting at his former school, the bombing of a university, derailing a train, shooting police officers and poisoning the state’s water supply.
In the following months, police say they raided his home a further three times, allegedly seizing knives, tactical clothing, chemicals that can be used to make explosives and schematics.
Videos of mass casualty events, including the Christchurch massacre, were allegedly found.
The teenager was first charged in April and released on bail, but was returned to custody following the last raid in September.
Previously, a court has been told, police held concerns the teenager had a secret cache of hidden items that were easily accessible.
Police allegedly found handwritten notes stating he had created a new device that is “much quieter”, “doesn’t require reloading” and is “compact to the point where I can easily put it in my pocket”.
“I’m planning to make another one of similar properties but modify (secret). Who knows, it could be months before the pigs discover anything wrong at all,” the documents allege the teen wrote.
Reddit posts attributed to the teenager allegedly state: “they don’t know they’re all going to die for bullying me and ignoring me. This is the day when I finally take revenge.”
The teenager is charged with possession of explosive substances without excuse, failure to safely store cartridge ammunition and possessing housebreaking implements.
Ms Coombes told the court there were discussions under way as to whether the teen would be charged with Commonwealth offences.
Mr Thomas said he would make a decision on bail when the case returned to court on Friday but repeatedly raised concerns about the teenager.
He said he accepted the man’s parents were prepared to do anything to stop their son and get him help, but said the evidence suggested his alleged actions had occurred “under their noses”.
“I don’t like the idea of someone in your client’s position being in custody, I genuinely don’t,” he said.
“The risk here is the applicant will engage in a school shooting … or some other form of mass killing.
“I do not have anything in place that makes it clear to me the mechanism by which that risk will be ameliorated.”
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