By Erin Pearson
Warning: graphic descriptions of violence
Police fear a Melbourne teenager is continuing to devise plans from his remand cell to carry out mass terror attacks against police and transgender people.
The 19-year-old former student, who cannot be named due to a court order, applied to be released on bail at a Melbourne court on Thursday – as police raided his cell following a tip-off from Corrections Victoria about “concerning” things found inside.
Credit: Illustration: Matt Absalom-Wong
The court heard police also fear chemicals bought online remain hidden in secret locations. Other precursor chemicals to make explosives were seized earlier this year.
In opposing bail, Detective Senior Constable Andrew Tucker said he believed the teen intended to kill people en masse, had recently begun writing in code, and presented a considerable risk to the public if released.
He said fresh notes – including etchings on his cell wall – of a concerning nature had been found on Thursday morning. Federal police were now being consulted on possible fresh charges.
The court heard detectives had undertaken four raids as part of their investigation into the teenager’s activities, during which they had uncovered encryptions relating to firearms, explosives and locations of potential attacks.
The teen is on charges including improperly storing ammunition and possessing explosive substances without excuse.
Tucker said of particular concern was that during an earlier release on bail, police allege the teen went on to buy further chemicals before he was rearrested in September.
“The notes he’s made in prison … surround attacks against police and transgender people, along with antisemitic Nazi-type documentation,” the detective said.
“There is also a report from Corrections Victoria about behaviour in custody that’s concerning to police.”
Defence lawyer Julia Kretzenbacher suggested some of the notes seized by police already this year included fantasy-like notes, regarding things like Minecraft and the accuracy of VCE textbooks.
But the prosecution said they also included threatening material.
Police have also seized further parcels connected to the accused teen, which contained women’s clothing and a fake mobile phone, the court heard.
When asked about the family’s observations of his behaviour at home, the teen’s father said his son had a long-time habit of “fermenting” things in his cupboard, which they believed was fruit and had attempted to clean up.
“We tried to clear lots of them, but it created conflicts,” he told the court.
In supporting the accused’s release on bail, the father said his son had recently been granted a fresh $150,000 NDIS plan, largely for a support worker and “future career planning” prospects.
Previously, the teen, who lives with autism, was granted only $10,000, the father said. He said he was hopeful the expanded package could better support his son.
During an earlier hearing, the court was read excerpts from notes allegedly written by the 19-year-old, in which he was said to describe his weapons research as “infallible” and expressed frustration at being laughed at behind his back.
“It disgusts me when I see the lower mindsets climb the ladder with laughable ease, while I cannot even step foot upon [it]. Sickening sight when mixed with growing thoughts of future vengeance. May be too much to bear. Achievement unlocked plagueeth be unto thee,” one read.
“I made a vow to myself. Before I commit suicide, I will take someone else’s life, and that person will die horrifically, not by a quick cut to the main artery, but brutally by bleeding to death. And then, if I have enough time, I’ll kill someone else. I’ll decapitate them and cut out their innards. I’ll dangle them all over the place until the whole room is bloodied, and then it’s my turn,” another read.
On Thursday, magistrate Malcolm Thomas raised concerns that the accused was continuing to express ideations right until his most recent application for bail, with the FBI also involved.
Those ideations earlier expressed, he said, included school shootings, massacres or mass killings of some kind.
The teen was also found with 500 rounds of ammunition, gun parts, attack gear and videos of the Christchurch massacre when arrested, he said.
“The consequences of the risk eventuality are about as extreme as you can get. [And] the risk is far from hypothetical ... but for intervention,” Thomas said.
“This is an application where there’s a risk of killing people. There is still, as I understand it, chemicals that are unaccounted for.”
The hearing continues.
If you or anyone you know needs support, you can contact Lifeline 131 114, or Beyond Blue 1300 224 636.
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