CANBERRA, Jun 29 (NNN-AAP) – Australia’s Prime Minister revealed, he and his family were threatened by an accused teenage terrorist.
Anthony Albanese said yesterday that, he and his family were among those threatened in an extremist manifesto, in which 19-year-old Jordan Patten allegedly outlined his intention to kill Members of Parliament (MPs) from the governing Labour Party.
“There is no place for extremism in Australia. That documentation that was made is very concerning, including threats not just to Labour MPs but to others, to my family,” he told reporters in Canberra.
Patten was on Wednesday arrested by the Joint Counter Terrorism Team (JCTT), in the city of Newcastle – approximately 100 km north of Sydney – after allegedly entering the office of Tim Crakanthorp, a Labour MP in the New South Wales state parliament, armed with knives and tactical equipment.
He has been charged with one count of preparing for, or planning, a terrorist act.
Authorities said that, following Patten’s arrest, they became aware of the manifesto that expresses anti-immigration, antisemitic and Islamophobic views and a list of grievances against the Labour Party and Albanese.
“It’s another reason why families should be off-limits from the media. It’s something that is of concern. I applaud the security agencies and police for the swift action they undertook,” Albanese said.
Under Australian law anyone found guilty of preparing for, or planning, a terrorist act, can be sentenced to imprisonment for life.– NNN-AAP
