Albury teenager arrested over terrorism offences

“The male we’ve arrested has an extremely right-wing ideology and is focused on neo-Nazi, white supremacist and anti-Semitic material,” Australian Federal Police counter terrorism and special investigations Assistant Commissioner Scott Lee said.

“A couple of days ago what we observed was an escalation in the time which went towards supporting the mass casualty event, and potentially his involvement in that event.”

“There was a post, I think, in the very early hours of this morning, which actually expressed support for a previous mass casualty shooting that occurred internationally.”

The event is not thought to be the Christchurch shooting in New Zealand.

He added the teenager also accessed bomb making materials which he “has sought to provide to others as part of his activities to urge others to commit terrorist acts and violence against community members.”

NSW Police Force counter terrorism and special tactics commander Assistant Commissioner Mark Walton said no specific attacks had been planned, but the man had wanted to harm those “who did not look like him.”

“More specifically, it’s non-whites, it’s immigrants, it’s people of the Jewish and Islamic faith,” he said.

“The investigation into this matter remains ongoing, but we remain wary about the speed with which lone actors can progress from online activities to ones that impact the real world.”

It will be alleged in court that the teenager regularly used social media forums and communications applications to encourage other people to commit violent acts in furtherance of an extreme right-wing ideology.

The teenager is expected to face Albury Local Court once charged and an application will be made to have the matter heard in a Sydney court at a later date.

There is no ongoing threat to the community.

Anyone with information about extremist activity or possible threats to the community should contact the National Security Hotline on 1800 123 400.