Melbourne teen denied bail after allegedly plotting school shooting, university bombing and train derailment

A Melbourne teenager has been taken into custody over allegations he planned a series of terror attacks across the city. The 19-year-old, who cannot be identified for legal reasons, appeared in the Moorabbin Magistrates Court on Monday where he was denied bail to return home to live with his family. Delivering her decision, Magistrate Luisa Bazzani said the risk he posed to the safety of the community “cannot be overstated”. She said handwritten notes discovered at his home allegedly demonstrated an “ideation to commit horrendous violent crimes against innocent people” and the man had “pursued a path to realise that”. Ms Bazzani pointed to a note allegedly written by the 19-year-old which read; “I made a vow to myself before I commit suicide, I will take someone’s life and that person will die horrifically”. The court was told the teenager came to the attention of police in February after the US Federal Bureau of Investigation tipped off that he was allegedly accessing information on the manufacture of firearms to conduct a school shooting. Police raided the home the same month, allegedly uncovering plans for firearms and explosives, 500 bullets and metal items used to construct a firearm. Handwritten notes allegedly detail plans including a mass shooting at his former school, the bombing of a university, derailing a train, shooting police officers and poisoning the state’s water supply. The court was told the man was referred to the Fixated Threat Assessment Centre for treatment but refused to engage. He also allegedly refused to engage with a specialist psychiatrist, believing he was a “spy for Victoria Police”. Ms Bazzani said the teenager’s home was raided three further times over the following months, with police allegedly seizing knives, tactical clothing and chemicals. The court was told police allege he had ordered potassium nitrate, a compound that can be used in explosives, with 250g remaining unaccounted for. In their opposition to bail, police highlighted the teenager allegedly referred to a “secret location” in notes, raising concerns he had stashed chemicals or possibly a handmade firearm. Many of the notes seized were allegedly written in a code the accused man had created, with police outsourcing these to be decoded, the court was told. “Society did not recognise me for who I was,” the teenager allegedly wrote. “It pressured me, branded me with a permanent stigma … It has done everything except reward me with what my knowledge and skills should have brought. “It disgusts me when I see the lower mindsets climb the ladder with laughable ease while I cannot. “Achievement unlocked; plagueth (sic) be unto thee.” Called to give evidence, a detective constable from Victoria Police’s counter-terrorism command took the court through a list of the teen’s internet history since July. Over the period, he allegedly made numerous searches for instructions to produce firearm parts, explosive compounds and mass casualty events – including the Christchurch massacre. Specific people were named in his notes, with Ms Bazzani questioning if police had made them aware. She was told Victoria Police’s “goal” currently was to ensure the man was not released. The court was told the teenager denies the alleged offending and describes the allegations against him as unfounded. His lawyer had argued that the teenager, diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder aged 14, was very vulnerable and would not be able to access appropriate treatment in custody. She told the court police had detailed extensive allegations, yet there was only a “narrow prosecution” at this stage, and he may not even be jailed if found guilty. The teenager was charged with offences including possession of explosive substances without excuse, failure to safely store cartridge ammunition and possessing housebreaking implements. Ms Bazzani said the teenager’s father had given compelling evidence he and his wife would reduce work to monitor their son, saying he was “willing to do anything to save my son”. “Even with the best of intentions it would be unlikely for his parents to monitor all of his activities,” she said. The teenager was remanded into custody and will return to court in November.