Schoolboy accused of bomb plot against Peter Dutton a ‘solitary kid’

The arrest has shocked those that knew the teenager, who is described as ‘never causing any trouble at school and coming from a good family’.

Peter Dutton, campaigning in Perth on Friday.Picture Thomas Lisson / NewsWire

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A Brisbane private school boy, charged with a bomb plot that allegedly targeted Peter Dutton, has been described as “a quiet, solitary kid” before his arrest following a counter-terrorism investigation involving spy agency ASIO.

The 16-year-old, who cannot be named for legal reasons, has been charged with buying bomb-making materials and testing “homemade explosives” last year in preparation for the alleged attack on the opposition leader.

Sources have told The Australian it is suspected the teenager was planning to attack Mr Dutton at his home on acreage, north of Brisbane, with the use of a drone.

The arrest has shocked those that knew the teenager, who is described as “never causing any trouble at school and coming from a good family”.

It is not known what initiated the joint counter terrorism investigation by federal and Queensland police, but sources have said ASIO was involved.

Revelations in The Australian on Friday about the alleged attack prompted Anthony Albanese to reveal he had been the alleged subject of a “pretty serious incident” now before the courts.

“Can I say I have reached out to Peter Dutton this morning and it is a fact that the number of threats that have been made to parliamentarians has increased in recent times,” the Prime Minister said. “I myself have been the subject of a range of issues, at least one of which is before legal processes at the moment. There was a pretty serious incident.

“There’s no place whatsoever in politics for any of this, and I have ensured that any time any member of parliament, regardless of who they are, have asked for support, they have received it.”

Mr Albanese’s office later declined to give any more details about the alleged incident.

Mr Dutton, who has been under heavy personal protection for years that has included police stationed at his home, said security around him and his family was raised after he began deporting criminals when appointed immigration minister in the Abbott government in 2014.

Anthony Albanese says he had been the alleged subject of a ‘pretty serious incident’ now before the courts. Picture: Jason Edwards / NewsWire

Campaigning in Perth, Mr Dutton, who would not comment on the alleged threat by the Brisbane teenager, praised the work of the AFP in protecting his family, declaring that he had “never felt unsafe one day in this job”.

“We have the same packages as the Prime Minister does, as the Governor-General does, and that’s been the case for some time, obviously, since I cancelled the visas of bikies and rapists and organised crime figures,” he said.

“And I wouldn’t change that. There’s been an impact on my family. They’ve been stoic and never-complained-about the security that’s been around me and my family.

“The federal police at home and the AFP have been absolutely amazing.

“But that’s what started the need for security, and I wouldn’t change any of that … because I know the decisions I took actually stopped further women from becoming victims of rapists.

“And I know that the murderers that I deported from our country are no longer a threat to Australian people, and I’ve always fought for what I believe in.

“I’m incredibly grateful to the AFP and my family to be safe.”

On Thursday, the teenager was committed to stand trial in the Supreme Court on a commonwealth charge of committing acts done “in preparation for, or planning, a terrorist act”.

It carries a maximum penalty of life imprisonment if convicted.

The charge alleges the teenager researched “bomb-making instructions, purchased explosives ingredients, tested thermal chemical reactions, tested homemade explosives”.

It is alleged the teenager, who has been in custody since his arrest, planned the attack over two months, from May 21 to July 15 last year.

In committing him to stand trial, Childrens Court magistrate Megan Power said: “Your lawyer has said there is enough evidence in the paperwork that has been provided to me to justify you going on trial in a higher court, the Supreme Court.” When asked if he would like to say anything in answer to the charge or enter a plea, the teenager, who appeared by video link from a detention centre, responded: “No, I do not wish to enter any plea.”