SYDNEY: A 20-year-old man from Bindoon, a town about 63 km north of Perth, has been arrested and charged by police with planning a terrorist act targeting mosques, Western Australia's police headquarters and Parliament House.
Police said the man, identified as Jayson Joseph Michaels, had written a manifesto outlining plans for a mass casualty event. The arrest was made on Friday.
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese described the alleged plot as "deeply shocking," posting on X late Friday: "The arrest of a WA man over an alleged racially-motivated terrorist plot is deeply shocking."
"Allegations the man was planning to target the Muslim community through attacks on mosques — as well as attacks on the WA police and parliament — are particularly distressing. He should face the full force of the law," Albanese added.
The incident is the latest in a series of events classified as terrorism in Australia. On January 26, an attempt was made to bomb a rally in Perth protesting against the country's national day.
In December, two gunmen attacked a Hanukkah celebration at Sydney's Bondi Beach, killing 15 people in Australia's deadliest massacre in nearly 30 years. Authorities believe the pair were inspired by the Daesh, or Islamic State, group.
