Adelaide teen charged with possessing extremist material

A teenage boy’s family has received a “wake-up call” after their son was arrested and charged with possessing extremist material, a court has heard.

A 13-year-old boy has been granted bail after being arrested and charged with one count of possessing extremist material following a police investigation.

The boy from Adelaide’s southern suburbs appeared in the Adelaide Youth Court on Thursday afternoon via video link in front of Magistrate Tracee Micallef, who heard prosecutors were concerned for the teen’s mental health because he was “susceptible to negative influence”.

Defence counsel for the teen – who is believed to be on the autism spectrum – said the arrest was “a wake-up call for the family”.

“He’s sometimes not sure what’s going on or why he feels certain things,” they said.

“He’s struggling quite a bit (in adult custody).”

Upon his arrest, police seized all electronic devices in the youth’s possession.

Ms Micallef granted the teen supervised bail, with an agreement in place prohibiting the teen accessing any electronic device capable of internet usage.

Any device in the teen’s ownership capable of internet usage must be declared to youth justice within 48 hours, while all relevant login information must also be provided.

“This is a bail agreement for a 13-year-old boy – he needs to be able to understand it,” Ms Micallef said.

The teen will appear in court next week.

Originally published as Adelaide teen charged with possessing extremist material