Two NSW teenagers charged over alleged violent extremist material and terror probe
Consensus Summary
Two teenagers from Moree in northern NSW, aged 15 and 16, have been charged with possessing violent extremist material after a joint counterterrorism investigation. The probe began in December 2024 following reports that a teenager was accessing extremist content online. On 27 March, police searched a home and seized a ballistic-style vest, a mobile phone, and notebooks from the 15-year-old, who was initially charged with possession of extremist material. After forensic analysis, further raids on two homes on 28 March uncovered handwritten notes and extremist literature, leading to additional charges against both boys. The 15-year-old faces charges for knowingly collecting terrorism-related documents and transmitting violent extremist material, while the 16-year-old is charged with possessing such material. Both were denied bail and will appear in Parramatta childrenās court on 29 March. The investigation involved collaboration between NSW police, New England police, and the Australian federal police, highlighting concerns over radicalization among young people in rural areas.
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Key details reported by multiple sources:
- Two teenagers, aged 15 and 16, from Moree in northern NSW, were charged with possessing violent extremist material
- The investigation began in December 2024 when New England police received information a teenager was allegedly accessing extremist material online
- On 27 March 2024, police searched a home and seized a mobile phone, a ballistic-style vest, and several notebooks from the 15-year-old boy
- The 15-year-old was charged at the time with possession of alleged extremist material
- Following forensic analysis, NSW Joint Counter Terrorism Team conducted further raids on two Moree homes on 28 March 2024, seizing handwritten notes and extremist literature
- The 15-year-old was charged with knowingly collecting or making documents connected with terrorism and using a carriage service to transmit violent extremist material
- The 16-year-old was charged with using a carriage service to possess violent extremist material
- Both teenagers were refused bail and will appear before Parramatta childrenās court on 29 March 2024
Points of Difference
Details reported by only one source:
- The Australian federal police and NSW police released a statement confirming the charges on Friday morning (29 March 2024)
- The 15-year-old was arrested and charged at the time of the first search (27 March) with possession of alleged extremist material
- NSW Police raided a home in Moree, about 120km south of the Queensland border, late in March
- The 15-year-old was arrested at 10am on 28 March and taken to Moree police station
Contradictions
Conflicting information between sources:
- The Guardian states the 15-year-old was charged at the time of the first search (27 March) with possession of alleged extremist material, but Newscomaustralia does not specify this exact timing for the initial charge
- The Guardian mentions the raids occurred on Thursday (28 March), while Newscomaustralia does not specify the exact day of the raids beyond 'late in March'
- The Guardian notes the charges were confirmed by a joint statement from Australian federal police and NSW police on Friday morning, which Newscomaustralia does not mention
Source Articles
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