Key facts
- A 16-year-old boy pleaded guilty to planning a terrorist act.
- The planned attack targeted the Sydney Opera House during the Sydney Marathon.
- The teenager was exposed to extremist content online, starting with historical material on TikTok.
- He communicated with others on an encrypted app about his intentions.
- His stated motivation involved the country's foreign policy in Iraq and Afghanistan.
- The court heard evidence of his remorse and ongoing deradicalization efforts.
A 16-year-old boy has pleaded guilty to planning a terrorist act, intending to bomb the Sydney Opera House during the Sydney Marathon. The teenager testified in the New South Wales supreme court about his gradual exposure to Islamic extremism online, beginning with historical conquest material on TikTok at age 14 and progressing to ISIS propaganda.
He told the court he communicated with others on an encrypted app, Telegram, about his desire to learn how to commit terrorism, finding the interactions interesting as he sought to relate to a new group of people. His research into targeting the Sydney Opera House, a landmark finish line for the Sydney Marathon, was influenced by the 2013 Boston Marathon attack. He stated his justification for the planned attack was the country's involvement in the Iraq and Afghanistan wars, which he believed led to the deaths of many Muslims.
Despite detailed planning, the teenager expressed uncertainty about whether he would actually carry out the bombing, citing an internal conflict. He has since disavowed extremist views and expressed remorse for his actions. His lawyer is seeking a non-custodial sentence, highlighting his deradicalization efforts while on bail under strict home detention. The Crown prosecutor, however, argued for a custodial sentence, citing a degree of naivety in his expressions of insight. Justice Stephen Campbell is scheduled to deliver the sentence on October 29.