Teen charged with plotting ‘acts of violence’ at school
Andrew Stafford |
A 13-year-old boy has been charged with possessing violent extremist material in preparation for what police allege was a planned attack on a local school.
The boy was arrested after allegedly threatening people with a knife at a local business in Maryborough, in southeast Queensland, on May 28.
Counter Terrorism Investigation Group and Maryborough Child Protection Investigation Unit detectives later seized electronic devices after executing a search warrant at a Maryborough address two days later.
The boy was charged with one count each of preparation or planning to cause death or grievous bodily harm and possessing or controlling violent extremist material obtained or accessed using a carriage service.
Counter Terrorism Investigation Group Acting Detective Superintendent Jason Hindmarsh said the boy had been charged under new legislation passed by the federal government in the wake of the Bondi massacre.
“I can confirm that the threat did involve acts of violence that were intended to occur at a local school,” Supt Hindmarsh told reporters in Brisbane.
He said the charges not involve any ideological cause at this time but police were still in the process of reviewing several devices.
The boy was also dealt with under the Youth Justice Act for one count each of attempting to enter premises with intent and with going armed so as to cause fear.
He faced a children’s court on Monday and has been remanded in custody ahead of his next court appearance on Friday.
Police said there was no ongoing threat to the public.
AAP