20-year-old man accused of plotting WA terror attack faces court hearings
Consensus Summary
A 20-year-old man named Jayson Joseph Michaels is facing terrorism charges in Western Australia after allegedly planning a mass casualty attack on police headquarters, Parliament House, and mosques in Perth. Police found a locked diary during a February raid at his parentsâ home in Bindoon, containing detailed plans for a âday of justiceâ and references to extremist white supremacist ideology, including comparisons to the Bondi beach shootings. Michaels allegedly stockpiled weapons, researched bomb-making materials, and accessed violent online content, though his defence argues his actions were fantasies driven by isolation and depression. Magistrate Belinda Coleman refused bail, calling his writings âdisturbingâ and not mere ramblings, while prosecutors argue his online activity and planning demonstrate intent. Michaelsâ next court appearance is scheduled for May 13, with charges including preparation for a terrorist act, possession of prohibited weapons, and unauthorized ammunition storage. His defence has described the case as weak, emphasizing his mental state and lack of concrete action, though prosecutors maintain his online and written plans show a deliberate course of conduct.
â Verified by 2+ sources
Key details reported by multiple sources:
- Jayson Joseph Michaels, 20, is accused of plotting a mass casualty terror attack targeting Western Australia police headquarters, WA Parliament House, and mosques in Perth
- Michaels allegedly wrote in a diary about planning a âday of justiceâ and compared his intended attack to the Bondi beach mass shootings, stating âWhat I want to do to both these groups pales in comparison to todayâ
- Police raided Michaelsâ parentsâ home in Bindoon, north of Perth, in February 2024, and seized a locked diary, two guns, 900 rounds of ammunition, and various knives from his bedroom
- Michaels allegedly accessed extremist white supremacist ideology online, including manifestos and instruction manuals from declared terrorist organizations, and researched bomb-making materials and 3D-printed weapons
- Magistrate Belinda Coleman refused bail for Michaels, describing his diary entries as âdisturbingâ and not mere âramblingsâ
- Michaels appeared in court via video link from Casuarina prison, where he is held in a special handling unit
- Michaels is due to appear in Stirling Gardens Magistrates Court on May 13 for further proceedings
Points of Difference
Details reported by only one source:
- Michaels allegedly planned to buy a 3D printer to make a gun and got a job to access bomb-making materials but left empty-handed after one day
- He allegedly wrote about designing and building body armour or an âIron Man-style metal suitâ and considered using a van resembling an ambulance for escape
- Michaels allegedly accessed the âWatch People Dieâ website, which was open on his computer when police raided his room
- Defence lawyer Christian Porter described Michaelsâ diary as having âall the hallmarks of a Marvel comicâ and a âWalter Mitty-esque fantasyâ
- Magistrate Coleman noted derogatory references to ethnic groups in Michaelsâ diary
- Prosecutor Kirsten Nelson argued Michaels had a âtimeline of things to achieveâ over years and was progressively planning steps for his âday of justiceâ
- Michaels allegedly practised picking locks in his bedroom and researched mosque entry points and occupancy times for optimal attack timing
- He allegedly consulted others online about crafting weapons and designed a patch for a jacket to wear during the attack
- Magistrate Coleman described Michaelsâ writings as âthe writings of a disturbed youthâ and noted online research into explosives and firearm construction
- Michaels allegedly discussed âpoint scoringâ in relation to a manifesto he downloaded from a right-wing mass killer
- Defence lawyer Christian Porter suggested Michaels may require an assessment for autism spectrum disorder
- Michaels allegedly proposed joining the Army Reserve and made efforts to gain employment to obtain explosives ingredients
- Magistrate Coleman noted Michaels reported a threat to his safety but would remain in the special handling unit
- Michaels was charged with âusing a carriage service to menace, harass, or cause offenceâ and âfailing to store a firearm in compliant storageâ
Contradictions
Conflicting information between sources:
- The Guardian and ABC mention Michaels allegedly planned to design body armour or a metal suit, but NewsCorp Australia does not mention this detail
- The Guardian and ABC describe Michaelsâ diary as âdisturbingâ and ânot just ramblings,â while NewsCorp Australiaâs prosecutor Kirsten Nelson frames it as âbig talkâ with no real intent
- The Guardian and NewsCorp Australia emphasize Michaelsâ research into explosives and weapons construction, but ABC does not explicitly mention this research beyond general radicalization
- The Guardian and NewsCorp Australia highlight Michaelsâ online engagement with extremist forums and manifestos, while ABC does not detail this interaction beyond âradicalised onlineâ
- The Guardian and NewsCorp Australia describe Michaelsâ diary as a âclear expression of intent,â but ABCâs defence lawyer Porter frames it as a âpie-in-the-sky planâ with no real intention
Source Articles
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WA man charged with terrorism offences wrote of Bondi attacks in diary, court told
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