‘Imminent threat’: charges laid against 13-year-old who allegedly planned attack on Queensland school

Queensland counter-terrorism police have charged a 13-year-old with planning an attack on a regional school north of Brisbane. The teenager was arrested last Thursday after allegedly making threats at a business in Maryborough, armed with a knife. Counter-terrorism police subsequently carried out a raid of his house and seized devices. Police allege they discovered evidence of a planned attack on devices seized at the house. Acting Det Supt Jason Hindmarsh, from the counter-terrorism investigation group, said the 13-year-old was “quite well advanced” in plans to cause death and grievous bodily harm and posed an “imminent threat”. “There was a threat to the school, and particularly our young people at that school,” he said. Hindmarsh said the boy was not seeking to further any “ideological cause” and his devices were still being reviewed. His motivation is “one of our key lines of inquiry,” he said. “It’s too early to say if there was an ideological, religious, or political motivation.” Hindmarsh said police were investigating whether the boy was radicalised online. “That’s part of our ongoing investigation as we analyse the devices,” he said. The boy has been charged with preparation or planning to cause death or grievous bodily harm and possessing or controlling violent extremist material obtained or accessed using a carriage of service. …