A 13-year-old boy has been arrested and charged by Queensland counter-terrorism police after allegedly planning an attack on a school.
The teenager was arrested last Thursday after allegedly making threats at a business in Maryborough while armed with a knife.
He was dealt with under the provisions of the Youth Justice Act for one count each of attempting to enter premises with intent, going armed so as to cause fear, making threats and possessing a thing intended for use in connection with an offence.
Detectives from the Counter Terrorism Investigation Group subsequently carried out a raid of the boy’s Maryborough home and seized electronic devices, which allegedly contained violent extremist material.
Counter Terrorism Investigation Group Detective Superintendent Jason Hindmarsh said the boy was “quite well advanced in his intention to cause death and grievous bodily harm”.
“There was a threat to the school, and particularly on young people at that school,” he said.
“It’s too early to say if there was an ideological, religious or political motivation.”
Hindmarsh said police were investigating whether the boy was radicalised online.
“That’s part of our ongoing investigation as we analyse the devices,” he said.
The boy is now facing additional charges of preparation or planning to cause death or grievous bodily harm and possessing or controlling violent extremist material obtained or accessed using a carriage of service.
He fronted court on Monday where he was remanded in custody and is expected to reappear in the Hervey Bay Childrens Court on 5 June.
Police say there is no ongoing threat to the public, and investigations are continuing.
The boy is the first to be charged in Queensland under the State Government’s new Fighting Antisemitism and Keeping Guns Out of the Hands of Terrorists and Criminals Amendments Act.
