Teen accused of terror plot over Liberals’ nuclear policy

A teenager planned to use homemade explosives targeting Liberal Party members and a public event in response to Peter Dutton’s nuclear policy, a court has been told.

The boy – who can’t be identified for legal reasons – pleaded not guilty to preparing a terrorist attack after his Brisbane Supreme Court trial started on Monday.

The teen allegedly planned to attack people and places associated with the Liberal Party in response to then opposition leader Dutton’s policy to build nuclear power plants in Australia, the jury heard.

He was also accused of preparing a bomb attack on Queensland’s Labour Day march in Brisbane that was set to be attended by 20,000 people.

The boy allegedly researched using pipe bombs, knives and incendiary devices.

He allegedly told friends they should send mail bombs to influential people and complained about not being able to buy ingredients for powerful explosives at hardware store Bunnings.

A teenage student had called police in July 2024 because he was concerned about things the accused teen was saying, crown prosecutor Sally Flynn told the jurors.

“A review of a phone, laptop and iPad showed the defendant had for months been in communication about terrorism and bombs,” Flynn said.

Counter-terrorism police found items the teen had purchased for making explosives, the jury was told.

The teen, then aged 16, was accused of allegedly planning an attack between March 23 and July 29, 2024.

His family home had to be evacuated during a search after police officers smelled a chemical odour coming from a bin, the jury heard.

Chemicals found in the bin could be used to make a dangerous item, Flynn said.

The teen had obtained the book Hunting the Unabomber, about the American domestic terrorist and prolific bomber Ted Kaczynski.

“The core aim of the ideology of Kaczynski was the complete destruction of modern industrialised and technological society,” Flynn said.

“Terrorism played a key role in promoting Kaczynski’s ideology.”

The jury would hear expert evidence the defendant had downloaded and absorbed some of the ideology from Kaczynski’s manifesto and violence was acceptable to him, Flynn said.

The jurors were told they would hear evidence from members of the boy’s family as well as counter-terror police, a bomb squad officer and an academic expert on terrorism.

Adult defendants convicted of preparing for a terrorist attack face a mandatory life sentence.

The sentence for any juvenile found guilty of the offence can be significantly reduced.

The jury is due to hear an opening defence statement on Tuesday.

The teen sat in the dock on Monday with four adult supporters sitting behind him.

Asked how he would plead to researching, purchasing equipment for and testing homemade explosives as part of planning or preparing a terrorist act, he said: “Not guilty, your honour.”

The boy also pleaded not guilty to researching the Liberal Party and Queensland’s Labour Day march in Brisbane as part of planning or preparing a bomb attack.

AAP