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 violent attack on Parliament House, police headquarters, 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 ideologies, including comparisons to the Bondi beach shootings. Michaels allegedly stockpiled weapons, researched bomb-making materials, and accessed radical online content, though his defence argues his actions were fantasies driven by isolation and depression. Magistrate Belinda Coleman refused bail, calling his diary entries âdisturbingâ and not mere ramblings, while his lawyer described the prosecutionâs case as weak. Michaels is due to appear in court again in May, with charges including preparation for a terrorist act and possession of prohibited weapons. The case highlights concerns over online radicalisation and the challenges of distinguishing between fantasy and intent in isolated individuals.
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 Parliament House, police headquarters, 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 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, seizing 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 and is due to face Stirling Gardens Magistrates Court on May 13, 2024
- Michaels is charged with five counts, including acting in preparation for a terrorist act, and possession of prohibited weapons
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
- Prosecutor Kirsten Nelson stated Michaels consulted manifestos of right-wing mass killers and white supremacists, researched mosque entry points, and discussed plans in online chat forums
- Nelson argued Michaels had a âtimeline of things to achieveâ over years and practised picking locks in his bedroom
- Magistrate Coleman noted Michaels had researched explosives and firearm construction via 3D printers and liaised with others about crafting weapons
- Nelson mentioned Michaels designed a patch for a jacket he planned to wear during the attack and referenced âpoint scoringâ from a manifesto
- 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
- ABC noted Michaels was held in a special handling unit in Casuarina Prison due to safety concerns
Contradictions
Conflicting information between sources:
- The Guardian describes Michaelsâ diary as containing âa list of actionsâ he planned to undertake, while ABCâs Porter frames it as a âpie-in-the-sky planâ with no real intent
- Newscomaau states Michaels allegedly âconsulted manifestos of right-wing mass killersâ on multiple occasions, but this specific detail is not mentioned in the Guardian or ABC
- The Guardian reports Michaels allegedly wrote about designing an âIron Man-style metal suit,â but this detail is not referenced in Newscomaau or ABC
- ABCâs Porter suggests Michaels may have autism spectrum disorder, a claim not mentioned in the Guardian or Newscomaau
- Newscomaau describes Michaels as âradicalised online and motivated by white supremacist ideology and hate sites,â while the Guardian focuses more on his comparison to Bondi attack rhetoric
Source Articles
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