A teenager from Maryborough, Queensland, faces serious charges related to an alleged plan for a school massacre. The 13-year-old reportedly told authorities that he had been experiencing an adrenaline rush from ideologies linked to mass murder.
Legal documents indicate that the young suspect had solicited artificial intelligence to generate a fictional narrative about a massacre targeting a festival with predominantly Jewish and Black attendees, reminiscent of the Bondi attack. His case is scheduled for a court appearance in September.
Initially, the boy caught the police’s attention in late May when he allegedly entered a BP service station in Maryborough wearing a mask and threatened to stab an employee. During subsequent interviews with law enforcement, he reportedly made several alarming statements, leading to the initiation of a terror-related investigation.
The court filings reveal that the boy had been contemplating mass murder for several months, claiming he was influenced by other school shooters and mass killings. He allegedly visited the service station with the intention of attacking children perceived as “easy targets.” After failing to find any children at the location, he reportedly attempted to steal a vehicle to reach a nearby primary school for his intended assault.
Following these incidents, police executed a search warrant at the boy’s family home in Maryborough, where they seized his phone and computer. They reportedly discovered a video related to the Christchurch terror attack. Additionally, records show that two years prior, he had written notes believed to outline plans for an attack on Albert State School in Maryborough.
Evidence suggests that the teenager had already acquired firearms and other illegal weapons through the dark web. Allegations in court documents suggest he adhered to neo-Nazi and white supremacist ideologies, expressing contempt for individuals of color, Jewish people, and Muslims. Prior to the May incident, he had accessed numerous violent videos and manifestos associated with mass casualties.
During police questioning, the boy’s mother expressed her fear for her safety, mentioning that he had threatened to harm her and his sister on multiple occasions. She described him as a radicalized recluse who had withdrawn from school and social interactions for two years, during which time he became fixated on racist ideologies, graphic content, and mass killings.
In June, the boy faced two charges related to terrorism. During a court session on June 17, it was revealed that he had already procured items for his proposed attack, including a mask and gloves. He was denied bail, with authorities highlighting the potential danger he posed to the community.
According to a police affidavit, the teenager had repeatedly requested AI to generate narratives about hypothetical mass shootings from a first-person perspective. In one instance, he asked for a story featuring a neo-Nazi shooter with a specific physical description, reminiscent of Vladislav Roslyakov, who was responsible for a deadly shooting in Russia.
The affidavit also referenced notes titled “The Albert Massacre,” which were believed to contain plans for an assault on Albert State School. A manifesto allegedly penned by the boy outlined intentions to target both students and teachers; however, the ABC has opted not to disclose its specifics for editorial reasons.
In late June, the boy’s defense attorney sought to contest the bail ruling, arguing that the mass murder plans were merely “dark thoughts” that he had not shared with anyone else. However, Justice David Boddice ultimately rejected the bail application, citing concerns over the risk the boy posed to public safety. He remarked on the defendant’s radical and violent beliefs, noting the actions he had already taken that demonstrated a genuine intent to inflict harm.
The teenager is currently receiving mental health treatment at the Children’s Hospital in Brisbane following an involuntary admission in June. His case is set to return to court in September.
