A 15-year-old boy has been denied bail after being charged with conspiring to engage in an act in preparation for a terrorist act. The boy’s lawyer, Ahmed Dib, expressed disappointment on behalf of the boy’s family and stated that they would be taking the matter to the NSW Supreme Court. The boy is accused of communicating with co-conspirators via encrypted platforms, with the charge focusing on messages he sent between April 18 to 24 after the Wakeley incident. In these messages, the teenager allegedly expressed a desire to undertake an attack in France and displayed hatred towards non-believers, indicating a desire to engage in Jihad.
The magistrate overseeing the case highlighted that the boy’s messages clearly showed his intention to carry out a catastrophic attack on Jewish or Assyrian people. Commonwealth prosecutor Rebekah Rodger revealed that the teenager had referred to an alleged stabber as his “mate” and had hand-drawn Islamic State flags in his bedroom. The boy had allegedly discussed targeting Jewish people and non-believers in a group chat titled “Plans” on the same day that two other co-conspirators talked about obtaining weapons, including a shotgun. Rodger clarified that the charges relate to generalized planning for a terror act, not necessarily specific planning for a particular act.
Dib argued that there was no substantial evidence of planning in the police fact sheet, despite the allegations against the boy. The 15-year-old is part of a group of four boys charged with conspiracy, with the youngest being 14 and the oldest being 17. The alleged Wakeley church stabber, who is 16, has been charged with committing a terrorist act. The boys have not entered pleas, and some of the matters are set to return to court in the coming weeks and months. The seriousness of the charges and the alleged communication between the co-conspirators via encrypted platforms have raised concerns about the potential for terrorist acts to be carried out.
The case has highlighted the use of encrypted platforms for communication among individuals planning terrorist acts, making it difficult for law enforcement to intercept and prevent such activities. The alleged desire of the 15-year-old boy to engage in Jihad and carry out attacks on specific groups of people underscores the importance of monitoring and preventing radicalization among young individuals. The involvement of multiple teenagers in the conspiracy to commit a terrorist act raises questions about the factors contributing to their radicalization and the need for early intervention to prevent such violent extremism among youth.
The denial of bail for the 15-year-old boy reflects the seriousness of the charges against him and the potential threat he poses to public safety. The decision to take the matter to the NSW Supreme Court indicates the family’s determination to seek justice for the boy. The upcoming court hearings for the four boys charged with conspiracy will shed more light on the extent of their involvement in planning terrorist acts and the measures needed to prevent similar incidents in the future. As the case unfolds, it will be crucial to address the root causes of radicalization and enhance efforts to counter violent extremism among young individuals.
