A Canberra teenager has been charged by the ACT Joint Counter Terrorism Team (JCTT) with additional terrorism offences, including acts in preparation for a terrorist act.
The youth, 17, is the first person to be charged with planning a terrorist act in the ACT.
It is alleged the teenager was planning an attack on people not known to him, motivated by views aligned with nationalist and racist extremism.
The young person appeared in the ACT Children's Court today (12 May, 2026), to face the following charges:
- One count of acts in preparation, or planning for, a terrorist act, contrary to section 101.6 of the Criminal Code (Cth). The maximum penalty for this offence is life imprisonment; and
- One count of transmitting violent extremist material, contrary to section 474.45B of the Criminal Code (Cth). The maximum penalty for this offence is five years imprisonment.
The ACT JCTT - comprising officers from the AFP, ACT Policing and ASIO - arrested and charged the youth on 5 November, 2025, after alleged violent extremist material was located during a search warrant. He has been remanded in custody since his arrest.
It will be alleged further evidence has been identified to support charges he shared violent extremist material and was preparing to commit a terrorist act.
AFP Assistant Commissioner Counter Terrorism, Peter Crozier, said it was alarming to see young Australians being exposed to violent extremist material and propaganda.
"Violent extremist material is circulated by terrorist organisations to promote violence, hate and division within Australian society," Assistant Commissioner Crozier said.
"The AFP and our law enforcement and national security partners will continue to work tirelessly to keep Australians safe.
"It is our job to defend and protect the Australian community, and we will relentlessly pursue those who seek harm to our democracy or our social cohesion.
"We strongly emphasise the important role that parents, schools, social services and technology companies have in preventing access to violent extremist material by our youth."
ACT Policing Deputy Chief Police Officer Richard Chin said the priority of police was to prevent access to extremist material and to educate young people in Canberra.
"The priority for ACT Policing, alongside JCTT partners, is to ensure the safety of the ACT community," Assistant Commissioner Chin said.
"We are focused on limiting the accessibility of violent extremist material and promoting education and awareness for those in protective roles, including parents, educators and health care providers in the ACT, to maximise prevention and early intervention options."
"Parents and teachers are often the first to spot when something doesn't seem right. Recognising early signs of changes in a young persons behaviour can play a crucial role in guiding young people to safe and supportive pathways. Strengthening awareness and confidence in trusted and supportive networks is a key element to preventing radicalisation and protecting young people from harmful influences."
Signs a person may be susceptible to radicalisation include:
- distancing themselves from their usual friends and family members;
- an increase in the extremist nature of their rhetoric or propaganda they propagate;
- a child using hateful or emotionally charged language;
- developing a fixation on conspiracy theories or contentious social issues;
- displaying extreme reaction to certain news or politics, or
- spending increasing amounts of time in fringe forums on the internet.
The AFP, and JCTT partners, continue to remain vigilant and ready to respond to threats of radicalisation and extremism among vulnerable young people.
If you believe someone you know is in immediate danger, call Triple Zero (000) or local police (131 444). If you suspect someone is being radicalised online or in person, call the National Security Hotline on 1800 123 400.
For anonymous reporting, visit the Crime Stoppers website or call 1800 333 000.
