A 13-year-old boy in Queensland charged with violent extremist offences has appeared in court for a brief hearing. The case, which involves a child, has drawn attention because of the serious nature of the accusations now being dealt with through the justice system.
According to authorities, the boy was initially arrested last week after allegedly making threats at a service station in Maryborough. That incident set off an investigation that quickly escalated into far more serious territory as police examined what had taken place.
He was later charged with planning a school attack and with possessing dangerous radical material found online. The combination of those allegations placed the case within the realm of counterterrorism, drawing the attention of specialist investigators.
At a bail application heard in the Hervey Bay Children's Court, the court was told that the boy is currently in hospital. Rather than proceeding fully at that stage, the matter was adjourned, leaving the next steps in the case to be dealt with at a later date.
Police confirmed that the 13-year-old was mentioned in court and that he has been remanded in custody. He is due to appear at the Maryborough Children's Court on June 17, when the case is scheduled to return before a magistrate.
Authorities sought to reassure the public, stating that there is no ongoing threat to the community. Officers said they continue to engage with stakeholders to provide support around all of the people involved in the investigation as it moves forward.
Police said their counterterrorism inquiries had continued through the week, with investigators present in Maryborough conducting further work. They added that they were reviewing devices seized under a search warrant, seeking to identify any ideology that may have motivated the alleged offending, while noting that no further threats had been identified.