Brisbane Teenager Charged With 2 Terror Offences

Brisbane teenager Max Belter is facing two terror-related charges following a joint operation between the Australian Federal Police (AFP), Queensland Police Service, and the Australian Security Intelligence Organisation (ASIO).

Officers executed a search warrant at the 18-year-old’s home on Sept. 9,  and allege they found violent extremist material—a video and a document—linked to proscribed terrorist organisations on several electronic devices.

They also allegedly found books associated with nationalist and racist violent extremism, and chemicals and precursors.

He has been charged with two counts of possessing and controlling violent extremist material obtained or accessed using a carriage service. The maximum penalty for that offence is five years’ imprisonment.

Investigations into the seized material, including forensic analysis of the digital material, are ongoing, and further charges have not been ruled out.

Police and the Commonwealth Director of Public Prosecutions provided Magistrate Rosemary Gilbert with a substantial volume of evidence at a preliminary hearing in the Brisbane Magistrate’s Court on Sept. 11.

AFP Assistant Commissioner Stephen Nutt said the increased volume of violent extremist material posted online, which is being both uploaded and accessed by young people, could have serious consequences for the community.

“The AFP believes extremist groups are targeting vulnerable and young individuals online for radicalisation, as they are more susceptible to being influenced,” he said. “We know these extremists are preying on young people in the same way that child sex offenders attempt to groom children.

“We urge parents, carers, family, and friends to speak out if they see any signs of radicalisation in people they are close with.”

Police say these signs include distancing themselves from their usual friends and family members; an increase in the extremist nature of the views they profess; using hateful or emotionally-charged language; developing a fixation on conspiracy theories or contentious social issues; displaying extreme reactions to certain news or politics; and spending increasing amounts of time in fringe forums on the internet.

Acting Assistant Commissioner of the Queensland Police Service Security and Counter-Terrorism Command, Heath Hutchings, praised the work of all agencies involved in the investigation.

“The collective power and capabilities of all agencies in the JCTT (Joint Counter Terrorism Team) sends a strong message about the commitment to thoroughly investigate and then put before the courts those who engage in terrorism related activity,” she said.

“The Queensland Police Service remains committed to working with its partner agencies for the safety and security of the whole community.”