20-year-old man accused of planning 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 police found evidence linking him to a planned mass casualty attack on public buildings and mosques in Perth. Michaels was arrested in February 2024 following a raid on his parentsâ home in Bindoon, where officers seized two guns, 900 rounds of ammunition, knives, and a locked diary detailing his violent plans. The diary allegedly included comparisons to the Bondi beach shootings, research on explosives and firearm construction, and references to extremist white supremacist ideology. Magistrate Belinda Coleman refused bail, calling the entries âdisturbingâ and not mere fantasies, though Michaelsâ defence lawyer portrayed his client as an isolated, depressed youth engaging in âescapism.â All sources agree on the core charges and key details like the raid location, seized weapons, and the diaryâs content, though minor variations exist in specifics like his motivations or planned tactics. The case will proceed to a May 13 court hearing, with prosecutors framing it as a deliberate, long-term plan while defence argues it was a delusional fantasy.
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 was charged in February 2024 after police executed a search warrant at his Bindoon home (75km northeast of Perth) and seized firearms (two guns), 900 rounds of ammunition, and knives
- Michaels allegedly wrote in a locked 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
- Magistrate Belinda Coleman refused bail, describing Michaelsâ diary entries as âdisturbingâ and not mere âramblingsâ
- Michaels allegedly accessed extremist white supremacist ideology online, including manifestos and instruction manuals from declared terrorist organizations
- Michaels appeared in court via video link from Casuarina Prisonâs special handling unit and is due to face Stirling Gardens Magistrates Court on May 13, 2024
Points of Difference
Details reported by only one source:
- Michaels allegedly planned to buy a 3D printer to manufacture a gun and secured 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 disguised as 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
- Michaels allegedly planned to design a patch for a jacket to wear during the attack
- Defence lawyer Christian Porter suggested Michaels may require an assessment for autism spectrum disorder
- Michaels allegedly researched locks on a Perth mosque and proposed joining the Army Reserve
- Michaels was charged with âusing a carriage service to menace, harass, or cause offenceâ and âfailing to store a firearm in compliant storageâ
- Prosecutor Kirsten Nelson argued Michaelsâ plans were part of a âcourse of conduct over a period of timeâ rather than an impulsive act
- Michaels allegedly practised picking locks in his bedroom and researched mosque entry points and occupancy times
- Nelson stated Michaels âconsulted other people who he thinks might be expertsâ on crafting weapons
- Magistrate Coleman described Michaelsâ writings as âthe writings of a disturbed youthâ
Contradictions
Conflicting information between sources:
- The Guardian reports Michaels allegedly wrote about designing âIron Man-style metal suitâ body armour, but ABC and News.com.au do not mention this detail
- ABC notes Michaels allegedly proposed joining the Army Reserve, which is not mentioned in the Guardian or News.com.au
- The Guardian states Michaels allegedly left a job after one day to access bomb-making materials, while News.com.au does not specify this timeline
- ABC suggests Michaels may require an autism assessment, a claim not made in the Guardian or News.com.au
- The Guardian describes Michaelsâ diary as âchilling materialâ with âderogatory references to various ethnic groups,â while News.com.au frames it as âescapismâ without explicit ethnic slurs
Source Articles
WA man charged with terrorism offences wrote of Bondi attacks in diary, court told
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âEscapismâ: Terror-accusedâs court claim
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