How an Australian children’s court revealed a teen’s attack plot and weapon stash

Parmatta Children court
A court heard that he discussed using knives in a group chat with others and kept hand drawn ISIS flags in his room. Photo Credit: NSW government

A terrifying discovery was made in Parramatta Children’s Court in New South Wales, Australia, as details emerged concerning a group of youngsters accused with terrorism-related offences.

The court heard about their plans for an upcoming attack, which included guns, knives, and a concealed stash house, a report by Australian Broadcasting Corporation said.

The horrifying revelations emerged when a 17-year-old requested conditional bail after an inquiry by a Joint Counter Terrorism Team. This probe followed a stabbing at a church in south-west Sydney on April 15, which was classed as a terror attack.

Messages purportedly exchanged by the 17-year-old over a secure messaging app were revealed in court. According to police, he detailed “kufar” plots aimed at non-believers in what the magistrate described as ideological jargon.

The adolescent allegedly sought “nerf guns” from the underground market, which is thought to be euphemism for illegal weaponry. Messages hinted at plans to obtain these weapons, as well as a stash of cash and a safe place to store them.

Despite having no criminal record, the teen’s bail application was denied. Magistrate Janet Wahlquist emphasised the potential threat to the community, citing the teen’s understanding of the hazards.

The defence maintained that the messages revealed no actual plans for a terrorist act. However, the prosecution claimed that the youngster planned to commit violence against the community and was found with a knife when arrested.

While the teen’s future is uncertain, the court’s judgement further shed some light on the gravity of the situation and the importance of protecting the community from potential dangers.

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