Melbourne teenager who allegedly planned terror attacks to remain behind bars over Christmas

A young university hopeful allegedly promised “I will not hold back” in a series of notes detailing plans for a school shooting and bombing.

A Melbourne teenager allegedly left a series of handwritten notes outlining plans to conduct a school shooting, bomb a university and poison the city’s water supply.

The 19-year-old, whose name and former school cannot be identified, will remain in custody until at least the new year amid police fears he is a risk of “mass violence” and is continuing to plot from his cell.

According to police, the teenager first came to the attention of Australian authorities after a tip off from the Federal Bureau of Investigations in February.

It’s alleged he was searching for information on how to manufacture firearms, get away with a school shooting and posting that he wanted to take revenge for bullying.

The teenager has faced a number of court hearings this year. Picture: NewsWire / Penny Stephens

The teenager’s home was raided by counter terrorism police that month, with several subsequent raids over the course of 2024.

Handwritten notes were allegedly found alongside 500 rounds of ammunition, plans and parts for both homemade firearms and explosive devices.

Police allege the notes contain ideas for mass casualty events.

These allegedly included carrying out bombings at a university, derailing a train using chemicals, shooting up his former school and targeting both the police and public.

They also allegedly air grievances against individuals and institutions for perceived slights.

“I hope it’s one or two cops’ first day at work and when they see the bodies, it haunts them for life,” he allegedly wrote.

“True, call me disturbed if you want but I simply don’t care.”

The court was told the teenager had allegedly previously applied to enter Monash University for a course in chemistry or pharmacy but was rejected.

“Please do not turn away such a brilliant opportunity, I am willing to do my part for the good to society (sic) and the science world,” a letter found at his home allegedly read.

The court was told the staff member who wrote the letter of rejection was allegedly named in the accused man’s notes as a target.

Monash University was allegedly identified in his notes. Picture: NewsWire / Andrew Henshaw

In a separate note, the teen allegedly stated if he did not get into a course by the end of October he would have “run out of excuses for those responsible”.

“This time I will not hold back,” he allegedly wrote.

“Society did not recognise me for who I was.

“It pressured me, branded me with a permanent stigma … It has done everything except reward me with what my knowledge and skills should have brought.

“It disgusts me when I see the lower mindsets climb the ladder with laughable ease while I cannot.

“Achievement unlocked; plagueth (sic) be unto thee.”

The teenager was charged in April, provided a “no comment interview”, and was granted bail under strict conditions, including that he receive psychological help.

He allegedly refused to engage, believing the psychologist was a “spy” for Victoria Police.

The teen allegedly wrote about derailing a train. Picture: NewsWire / Andrew Henshaw

Police allege a subsequent raid in September uncovered further notes, plans, chemicals, tactical gear and videos of mass casualty events including the Christchurch massacre.

It is alleged the bulk of the teenager’s notes found during the later raids were now written in a code he had developed, with police still working to decipher them.

Some written in English allegedly state he’d constructed 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,” police allege he wrote.

During a bail application in December, investigators told the court they had serious concerns the teenager posed a high risk of violence and had hidden caches of equipment they had not been able to locate.

Detective Senior Constable Andrew Tucker told the court police hold serious concerns the teen has dangerous items stashed. Picture: NewsWire /David Geraghty

Detective Senior Constable Andrew Tucker said items, including notes, cell scribblings and an unspecified “object”, were allegedly seized from his prison cell the same day he appeared in court.

“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.

Sitting in the dock, the autistic teenager looked years younger than his age would suggest and did not make eye contact with anyone present, including his own parents.

His lawyer Julia Kretzenbacher told the court her client was a young, vulnerable man being held in isolation for his own safety and nothing was being done to address his mental health or fixation.

She called on the court to release him to his parents under extremely strict conditions so he could start receiving help.

The teen’s parents told the court they would do anything to help keep their son safe. Picture: NewsWire / David Geraghty

The teenager is charged with possession of explosive substances without excuse, failure to safely store cartridge ammunition and possessing housebreaking implements.

In December the Melbourne Magistrates’ Court was told there were discussions under way as to whether the teen would be charged with Commonwealth offences.

Magistrate Malcolm Thomas refused to give the teen bail a second time, finding that the potential harm if he carried out his alleged plans “cannot be understated”.

“I accept his parents are willing to do everything they can to prevent him carrying out the acts he seems intent on,” he said.

“I do not have anything in place that makes it clear to me the mechanism by which that risk will be ameliorated.”

He is expected to return to court in January.

Originally published as Melbourne teenager who allegedly planned terror attacks to remain behind bars over Christmas