Melbourne terror plot was just a Monty Python-style skit, Phillip Galea says
Plans for a massacre found on a man’s USB were part of a Monty Python-like satire, court told.
Documents detailing how Melbourne’s Trades Hall could be destroyed and how a massacre could be carried out were intended to be a Monty Python-like satire that would leave readers in “stitches”, an accused right-wing terror plotter has told a court.
Phillip Galea, 34, said the documents found by police on a USB stick were not intended to be used to plan a terrorist attack, but were instead “comedic”.
“That was part of a satirical document I was working on,” Mr Galea told the Supreme Court in Melbourne, after taking the stand in a terror plot trial.
“I intended it to be taken as a joke.”
He said he had intended to include “disclaimers” throughout the planned document to show he was “taking the piss”, comparing the type of humour to Monty Python.
Mr Galea is accused of researching explosives and three Melbourne locations — Trades Hall, the Resistance Centre and the Melbourne Anarchist Club — in preparation for a terrorist act.
He is also accused of preparing a document, the Patriot’s Cookbook, that he hoped would spark thousands of terrorist attacks, prosecutors have told the court.
Mr Galea told the court that he had explored the idea of producing smokebombs that could be used at right-wing rallies to confuse, but not hurt, counter-protesters whom he described as terrorists.
“I meant it as a means to prevent physical harm,” he said.
Galea has also described himself as a self-taught electrical engineer, but insists he has never used his scientific knowledge to harm anyone.
The 35-year-old expressed the sentiments while being questioned by his lawyer in his trial in the Supreme Court of Victoria on Tuesday.
Galea has been accused of plotting attacks on Melbourne anarchist and socialist groups between August 2015 and 2016 to “eliminate the leaders of the left”.
Asked by his lawyer Felicity Gerry QC whether the comedy was a similar style to that of the Monty Python group, Galea said it was.
“The same sort of humour, yes.” Galea told the jury he had “certainly not” actually wanted to destroy any buildings.
Asked whether he had wanted a massacre, he replied “of course not”.
The accused terror plotter has been in custody since his arrest in August 2016. Arson and explosive experts raided Galea’s home in November 2015 and seized five cattle prods and 362.1 grams of mercury.
Computer equipment was also seized, and it’s alleged Galea researched homemade bombs, ballistic armour and guns.
Under questioning, Galea spoke at length about his interest in science, describing himself as a self-taught electrical engineer who had read engineering texts dating back to the 1800s.
He said he was particularly interested in the concept of ‘free energy’ - tapping energy available in the universe - and described space as the “next step in human evolution”.
Galea said he had watched every episode of Myth Busters and tried to recreate many of their experiments.
He was also using the mercury found at his home to replicate an engine originally created by 19th century English scientist Michael Faraday, he said.
The trial continues.
Additional Reporting: AAP
