Arabic version: مراهق من الإقليم الشمالي يطلب الإفراج بكفالة في اتهامات إرهاب

According to ABC News, a 14-year-old Northern Territory boy charged with terrorism offences has applied for bail, with his lawyer arguing he is not a threat to the community and needs mental health treatment.

The boy, who cannot be identified for legal reasons, was arrested on October 28 after the Joint Counter Terrorism Team searched his home following a public tip-off. He faces charges of collecting documents likely to facilitate terrorist acts, possessing violent extremist material, and possessing or controlling firearms and explosives manufacture material.

Defence lawyer Ian Rowbottam told the NT Youth Justice Court that his client was a “keyboard warrior” and a troubled young person who was “not indoctrinated”. He said there was a difference between a young person fantasising while “hating the world” and carrying out violence, and argued that incarceration would worsen the teenager’s mental health.

The court heard allegations that the boy possessed videos connected to Brenton Tarrant and the Columbine High School shooting, as well as The Anarchist Cookbook, a document titled “hell fighter training”, a file featuring the words “blood lust”, and instructions for making a 3D-printed semi-automatic gun. Mr Rowbottam said much of the material was widely available online and said there was no suggestion the boy had tried to buy materials.

Mr Rowbottam proposed release to the boy’s mother’s home with a curfew and no internet access, citing the recent death of the teenager’s stepfather and ongoing mental health treatment. Prosecutors opposed bail. Judge Thomasin Opie requested a report on specialist help available in custody, reserved her decision, and listed the case for Friday.