Arabic version: مراهق متهم بالتخطيط لمجزرة في مدرسة في كوينزلاند

A 13-year-old boy from Maryborough, Queensland, has been charged with planning a school massacre, allegedly expressing a desire to kill for months. According to ABC News, the teenager told police he had planned mass murder for many months and gained an adrenaline rush from ideologies related to mass murder.

The boy first attracted police attention in late May when he allegedly attended a BP service station in Maryborough donning a mask and threatened to stab an employee. Following this incident, police initiated a terror-related investigation after the boy made several alarming statements during an interview.

Court documents reveal that the teenager had previously made notes believed to be plans for an attack on Albert State School, and had attempted to steal a car to reach a local primary school. In a search of his home, authorities seized his phone and computer, uncovering a video of the Christchurch terror attack and various extremist materials.

The boy was charged with two terror-related offenses in June, including preparation or planning to cause death or grievous bodily harm and possessing or controlling violent extremist material. During the investigation, it was revealed that he had sourced illegal weapons from the dark web and had expressed extreme ideological views, including neo-Nazi beliefs. He remains in custody and is currently receiving mental health treatment.

The case is set to return to court in September, as the boy’s defense contends that his plans were merely ‘dark thoughts’ and not actionable intentions. However, the court has upheld the decision to deny bail, citing the risk he poses to the public.