Teen allegedly threatened to attack synagogue, searched ‘how to cover up murder’

A teen who allegedly published Islamic State propaganda online and threatened to murder a Jewish congregation has been found to be risk to the community and denied bail.

The 18-year-old, who cannot be named for legal reasons, sat with his head in his hands as Victorian Supreme Court Justice Rowena Orr handed down her decision on Thursday afternoon.

The teen has been denied bail in the Supreme Court. Credit: Vince Caligiuri

In May, he was charged by Australian Federal Police counter-terrorism officers with offences including publishing extremist material and using a carriage service to make a threat to kill.

Police arrested him after he allegedly sent an email under the name Adolf Hitler to the Melbourne Hebrew Congregation, claiming a shooter would attack the synagogue during Shabbat.

The same email also claimed there were explosives surrounding a secondary school, the court was told.

It’s alleged that in April the teen posted an IS promotional video to Instagram, depicting several captives being executed, as well as photos of himself holding knives and machetes.

Other videos showing air strikes on civilians and dead bodies were also found on his phone, the court was told.

Orr described the allegations as serious examples of the charged offences as she refused the teen bail.

She accepted there were exceptional reasons to release him, noting his young age, diagnosed autism and the fact he would likely spend more time on remand than any eventual sentence.

But she found the boy was an unacceptable risk of endangering his youth justice support workers or members of the public if he was released back into the community.

“I’m satisfied community safety is maximised by refusing bail,” the judge said in her reasons.

Orr noted while the teen had no prior convictions, he did spend some time on remand and then bail after being charged by counter-terrorism police in 2021.

That case was ultimately stayed in 2023 after a magistrate found officers had acted inappropriately.

The judge detailed times the teen failed to comply with his previous bail conditions, including instances where he searched online “10 ways to cover up a murder” and “16 steps to kill someone and not get caught”.

The boy was never charged with breaching his bail terms, but Orr said the non-compliances were concerning.

Loading

She accepted the teen’s parents were a positive protective factor and they were motivated to do whatever they could to ensure he complied with bail.

The boy’s mother previously told the court she would lock all electronic devices and the sole kitchen knife in a safe overnight.

Orr noted the teen carried out the alleged offending using a phone his parents did not know about and he purchased machetes and knives online without their knowledge.

She also found the teen’s fixation on Islamic State had not dissipated and instead only exacerbated his risk, as did his impulsivity, impressionability and lack of insight.

The teen’s case will return to the children’s court.

AAP

Get alerts on breaking news as it happens. Sign up for our Breaking News Alert.

Most Viewed in National

Loading