Australian authorities have charged a 20-year-old Western Australian man with preparing a terrorist attack allegedly targeting mosques, WA police, and parliament after police reportedly found a manifesto planning mass casualties at his home.
Prime Minister described the reports as "distressing" as the nation confronts the ongoing threat of far-right extremism on Australian soil. The case, reported by The Guardian, represents the latest escalation in a threat that security agencies have been warning about for years.
This is Christchurch-style extremism right here in Australia. The PM's careful language suggests authorities are deeply worried about copycat attacks.
The alleged plot targeted multiple sites including mosques, Western Australia police facilities, and parliamentary buildings, according to police sources. The manifesto allegedly outlined plans for mass casualties, echoing the rhetoric and methods of other far-right extremists who have carried out attacks in Christchurch, Norway, and the United States.
Australian security agencies have repeatedly warned that far-right extremism now represents a significant terrorism threat alongside Islamist extremism. The 2019 Christchurch mosque attacks, which killed 51 people, were carried out by an Australian-born terrorist and sent shockwaves through both New Zealand and Australia.
The Australian Security Intelligence Organisation (ASIO) elevated the threat level for politically motivated violence in 2022, noting a concerning rise in far-right networks and online radicalization. Director-General Mike Burgess has repeatedly emphasized that the threat is "real and growing."
Western Australia Police declined to provide additional details about the investigation, citing the ongoing nature of the case. The accused man has been remanded in custody and will face court in Perth.
Muslim community leaders expressed concern but not surprise at the allegations. "We've been warning about this for years," one Perth imam told reporters. "Online hate has real-world consequences."
The case highlights the challenge facing Australian law enforcement in identifying and stopping lone-wolf attackers radicalized online. Unlike organized terrorist networks, individuals operating alone can be harder to detect until they take concrete steps toward violence.
The Prime Minister called for unity and vigilance, urging Australians to report suspicious behavior while emphasizing that the vast majority of Australians reject extremism in all its forms.
