Parents, SA Premier Peter Malinauskas and acting SA Police Commissioner Linda Williams respond to Glenunga ‘attack’ case

Parents at one of Adelaide’s largest schools told of their fears after it was revealed a series of emails allegedly threatened to boil students in oil.

• Horror school threat claims aired

Parents have reacted with relief and caution after a man who threatened to boil a female student with oil and attack with a car at Glenunga International High School was arrested on Wednesday.

Between November and February, the school received 13 threatening emails, allegedly from the man, causing fear within the school community and prompting extra security measures to be put in place.

Bollards were still up and police security were patrolling the school on Friday afternoon at pick-up time as some parents still held fears for their children and other students.

Security has been beefed up outside Glenunga International High School. Picture: Emma Brasier

Subir Pal, whose daughter attends the school, was relieved an arrest had been made. Picture: Emma Brasier

Subir Pal, whose daughter Saranyaa is in year 9 at the school, said it was a “major” concern.

“It is over, but I’m afraid that it might happen in future, maybe not with this school but another school,” Mr Pal said.

“SA Police should take some action to avoid this kind of thing in future.

“As of now I am very, very relieved.”

Nadine Venditti has two boys at the Glenunga school, one in year seven, the other in year nine, and said she was “probably not” happy with the way the school communicated with parents.

“They (the school) were pretty vague, we knew there was something going on but not to this extent,” she said.

“Hearing things from kids about armed officers being on site and that kind of thing is a bit scary when you’re not exactly sure what’s going on.

“It’s scary, it’s very, very scary that it’s happening right here.”

Nadine Venditti has two children enrolled at the school. Picture: Emma Brasier

Jack Phang was pleased with the response to the threats. Picture: Emma Brasier

Jack Phang was visibly joyous when he picked up his year 11 daughter from the school on Friday.

He was pleased with the protective precautions, and hopeful that nobody would follow through on such “extreme” threats.

“It’s the first time I’ve seen armed police at a school in South Australia, this has been taken very seriously,” he said.

“I hope someone wouldn’t take such an extreme stand, but we need to take precautions, make sure something like that never happens.”

Yutao Huang echoed Mr Phang’s relief, and said while parents had been worried for some time, he and his year nine son Daniel, were “very happy” that police were taking action.

Security outside Glenunga International High School. Picture: Emma Brasier

As The Advertiser previously reported, more than 100 “courageous” police officers were involved in a several-months long, “top priority” investigation to arrest a teenager allegedly threatening community safety in what the Premier has described as the most complex police operation he’s ever been briefed on.

Giving an update into the significant, multi-agency investigation which resulted in the arrest of a southeastern suburbs man on Wednesday evening, Premier Peter Malinauskas on Friday revealed ASIO and the Joint Counter Terrorism Team had been involved in the matter.

“I met with the Police Commissioner on the evening of the May 2, and was briefed on probably the most complex and significant case I’ve ever received a briefing on,” Mr Malinauskas said.

“The nature of the work that has been undertaken by South Australian Police in this instance is hard, I think, for most South Australians to comprehend.

“It was technically extremely complicated, and men and women within SA Police were literally spending countless nights and days working on this matter.

Mr Malinauskas applauded the “huge team effort” led by SA Police but also including the Education Department, SA Health at a state level, and ASIO at a federal level.

SA Premier Peter Malinauskas. Picture: Russell Millard Photography

“The arrest itself required a very substantial operation, and there were men and women who put themselves in harm’s way to be able to execute that risk without fear or favour and they deserve great credit as well,” he said.

Acting Police Commissioner Linda Williams said that the school community was safer knowing the man had been arrested.

She said the school was first made aware about the threats from “very early on”, but that they had been very cooperative.

“We say that we have mitigated the threat significantly, and we’re very comfortable that the school’s open today and we have been working with the Education Department,” she said.

Extra security around Glenunga International High School, including bollards. Picture: RoyVPhotography

She could not confirm if bomb-making materials were located in the man’s home, but said items that were seized during the investigation were being processed.

She said there was no reason to believe he was working with anyone else.

“At this stage, we are focusing on this individual, and that person has been arrested,” she said.

“There will be police and police security officers that will continue to be present (at the school).”

On Wednesday, police arrested a man – whose identity is suppressed – and charged him with two counts of blackmail and one count of making it appear food had been contaminated.

During his first court appearance on Thursday, police alleged the man sought to blackmail Glenunga International High School – the state’s biggest public school – into “systemic change” through 13 emailed threats over a four-month period.

SA Police Deputy Commissioner Linda Williams. Picture: Keryn Stevens

In a letter to the school community on Friday morning, school principal Wendy Johnson thanked police, staff, students and families.

“We are pleased to inform you that South Australia Police (SAPOL) has made an arrest following their thorough investigation into concerning emails received by the school,” she said.

“We extend our gratitude to SAPOL for their diligent work and commitment to ensuring the safety of our students, staff, and the broader school community. Their efforts have been instrumental in reaching this point.

“We also wish to express our sincere thanks to our dedicated staff, the students, and all parents and carers for your co-operation and understanding during this time. Your support and vigilance have been invaluable.

“The school will continue to operate as usual, and we remain committed to maintaining a safe and secure environment for everyone.”

An Education Department spokeswoman said the school would continue to operate as usual, and thanked authorities and the school community.

The court heard on Thursday that the emails, which were also sent to The Advertiser, the man allegedly dubbed himself the “prophet of justice” and a “hero” who would “cleanse corruption”.

That prompted increased security at the school, as the man allegedly threatened to use a car, bombs and knives to attack students and boil a female student in oil at a bus stop.

Police alleged the man was a skilled hacker who had repeatedly breached the school’s IT system amid threats he was building bombs for a “violent future”.

He allegedly also claimed to have been experimenting with severing brain stems and injecting lead acetate into hot cross buns, brownies and other popular foods.

The man’s threats, they alleged, escalated from targeting the school to Gather Round, the Fringe and the state’s Jewish community unless he was paid $23 million in cash and Bitcoin.

He will return to court in December.

Originally published as Parents, SA Premier Peter Malinauskas and acting SA Police Commissioner Linda Williams respond to Glenunga ‘attack’ case