A 18-year-old man accused of operating extremist social media accounts has been arrested at his Moreton Bay home in Queensland following a tip-off from the FBI.
Police allege the teenager was running several social media accounts where statements supporting violence against Jews, Muslims and migrants were posted and extremist content was shared.
“It’s not only just making us sick, but it’s making us fearful. It’s normalising the call to violence,” Islamic College of Brisbane’s Ali Kadri said.
After receiving information from the FBI, police raided the home and seized devices containing violent extremist and child abuse material.
“Ever since Bondi, it’s like you never think it would happen somewhere else, but it’s in our suburbs,” another resident said.
The teen was initially charged by Queensland’s joint counter-terrorism team in May after police executed a search warrant at a home in Warner, in Brisbane’s northwest, in May, seizing several electronic devices.
He has since been hit with 27 more charges and appeared in the Pine Rivers Magistrates Court for the first time on Friday.
The charges include using a carriage to transmit violent extremist material, using a carriage service to harass or cause offence, and possessing or controlling child abuse material.
He first appeared before court on May 27 and was remanded in custody.
While the alleged offender is now 18, police say some of the crimes were committed while he was legally a child. That’s why he cannot be named or identified.
“This appears to be white supremacism. This was dangerous behaviour that could have resulted in really tragic action,” Deakin University’s Professor Greg Barton said.
Attorney-General Deb Frecklington added: “There is no place in Queensland for this type of extremism behaviour.”