Terror-accused teen bailed again on child abuse material charges

A teenager on bail for allegedly conspiring to engage in a terror act after the Wakeley Assyrian church stabbing has again been granted bail – this time on child abuse material charges.

Seven people were arrested after search warrants were executed at 13 locations in Sydney and Goulburn in 2024. Picture: NSW Police

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A teenage alleged associate of the Wakeley priest stabber, on bail for conspiring to plan a terrorist act, has again been granted bail on child abuse material charges.

The now 17-year-old, who cannot be identified because he is a minor, was charged with the terrorism offence on April 24, 2024, after police allegedly discovered a Signal group chat called “Plans” on his phone, following a separate arrest, where participants agreed to engage in a “Bayah” on the coming Monday – or a pledge of allegiance to the leader of Islamic State.

In the chat, the teens discussed obtaining firearms and establishing a “stash house”, and each member “demonstrated support for violent jihad and an interest in Islamic State”, a recent court judgment states.

The commonwealth alleges the planning was interrupted by the arrest of the youth and two of his co-accused, which followed raids across southwest Sydney in the weeks after another teenager stabbed Assyrian Orthodox Bishop Mar Mari Emmanuel at a Wakeley church.

The six youths arrested over terror offences were initially described in court as “associates” of the alleged stabber but were not charged in relation to the alleged attack.

This 17-year-old was granted bail on strict conditions three months after his terror arrest.

One of the teenagers arrested in the raids. Picture: NSW Police

Over a period of about 10 months, police searched his phone, as per his bail conditions, and allegedly discovered child abuse material, saved from Snapchat and Instagram, which featured naked children as young as seven, some in sexual acts, the NSW Supreme Court judgment, published this week, states.

The child abuse offences were allegedly committed before the terrorism arrest, between August 2023 and April 2024.

As a result, the teenager was arrested again in late February, 2025, and charged with six counts of using a carriage service to access child abuse material and six counts of possessing child abuse material.

The teenager was refused bail in the Children’s Court in March because he was set to reside with younger siblings, and placed in a maximum security adult prison.

Last week, however, Justice Stephen Rothman in the NSW Supreme Court found he had reached the “extremely high hurdle” which required him to show there were “exceptional circumstances” to be granted bail.

Another minor arrested. Picture: NSW Police

Justice Rothman cited the teen’s strong family ties, trial delays in part due to the flooding of the Downing Centre Court, previous bail compliance and conditions which would not allow him to possess any internet capable device.

“The material before the court discloses that the family of the accused do not support the radical views with which the applicant was enamoured. The court is informed that the parents, siblings and grandparents of the applicant are prepared to supervise the applicant and have already supervised the applicant in the periods in which he has been on bail,” Justice Rothman states in his judgment.

Justice Rothman accepted that the crown case was strong, and referred to the teen’s willingness to undertake a “Bayah”.

“Given that the crown case depends almost entirely on material obtained by a search of communication devices owned by the applicant or used by the applicant and the inculpatory nature of the material, it should be said that the crown case is strong,” he said.

“Nevertheless, bail is not a punishment. A court on a bail application is not determining guilt or innocence.

“I take into account the disastrous impact that would occur if the risk of the commission of a terrorist act manifested.”