Four Sydney Teens Charged with Planning Terrorist Attack on Jewish Community

Four Sydney teenagers, aged 14 to 17, have been charged with planning a terrorist attack targeting the Jewish community, just days after a 16-year-old allegedly stabbed an Assyrian Orthodox bishop in a Sydney church on April 15, 2023. The arrests were part of a joint counter-terrorism operation, with the teens accused of possessing violent extremist material and conspiring to engage in preparation and planning for a terrorist act.

According to court documents, the four teens "adhered to a religiously motivated, violent extremist ideology" and were part of a network that included the suspect arrested in the bishop's stabbing. Police allege the teens discussed buying guns on April 19, the same day the bishop's alleged attacker was charged. The group allegedly communicated on encrypted messaging apps, with one 17-year-old saying "I wanna die and I wanna kill" and another 15-year-old saying "I really want to target the yahood," meaning Jewish people.

The teens, who called themselves "soldiers of Allah," were willing to die and kill, and had discussed obtaining firearms and looking for empty homes to use as stash houses. They had also praised the boy who allegedly stabbed the bishop. Police commissioner stated the investigation is still ongoing to establish the nature of the alleged attacks.

Why this matters: The arrests and charges highlight the ongoing threat of religiously motivated violent extremism in Australia, particularly targeting minority communities. The alleged involvement of young teenagers in planning such attacks raises concerns about radicalization and the need for early intervention and prevention strategies.

The bishop, Mar Mari Emmanuel, who lost the use of his right eye in the April 15 attack, spoke about the importance of free speech and said he would pray for his attacker. The 16-year-old accused of the church stabbing has been charged with committing a terrorist act and could face life in prison if convicted. All five teens arrested have been charged with offenses including conspiring to engage in or planning a terrorist act.

Key Takeaways

• 4 Sydney teens, 14-17, charged with planning terrorist attack on Jewish community
• Teens part of network that included suspect in bishop stabbing in Sydney church
• Teens discussed buying guns, praised bishop attacker, called themselves "soldiers of Allah"
• Arrests highlight threat of religiously motivated violent extremism, radicalization of youth
• Bishop, victim of church stabbing, spoke of free speech and prayed for his attacker