Police in the Australian state of New South Wales have arrested and charged one Joshua Lucas with extreme right-wing views and alleged plan of a terrorist attack.
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Law enforcement officials confirmed the arrest at a press conference on Monday and added that Lucas, a 21-year-old man from the town of Sanctuary Point, had expressed right-wing views online.
According to Australian Federal Police Commissioner, Scott Lee, the suspect was arrested on Saturday after law enforcement officers conducted surveillance on his online activities.
“The man was attempting and planning to purchase or acquire military equipment, including firearms and items capable of making improvised explosive devices,’’ Lee said.
He said that the maximum sentence for the charge of preparing an act of terrorism is life imprisonment.
New South Wales Police Assistant Commissioner, Mark Walton, added that the suspect had anti-government sentiment, was anti-Semitic, and had neo-Nazi interests as well as anti-indigenous interests.
“I think it is fair to say that really the online environment is the petri dish of hate in our community.
“What we know is that this person had anti-government sentiment, he was anti-Semitic, he has neo-Nazi interests and anti-indigenous interests.
“Unfortunately, he’s evolved with an ideology that really is one of hate against a lot of different groups,’’ he added.
Walton further said that police moved to arrest Lucas on Saturday, one day before the first anniversary of the Christchurch mosque shootings that resulted in the death of 51 people.
According to the Canberra Times newspaper, Lucas had planned to blow up an electrical substation with an improvised explosive device.
The suspect appeared in a local court in the town of Nowra earlier in the day, and bail was refused.