Brisbane Schoolboy Allegedly Plotted Terror Attacks Inspired by Unabomber

A Brisbane private schoolboy allegedly plotted terrorist attacks against the Liberal party and Brisbane’s Labour Day march in 2024 after being influenced by the Unabomber.

The teenager, who cannot be named for legal reasons, was 16 in 2024 when he was arrested by counter-terrorism police.

He allegedly prepared or planned a terrorist attack, using over-the-counter chemicals to attack premises or people associated with the Liberal party of Australia.

He also allegedly made plans to bomb the 2024 Labour Day march, including drawing an image of an explosion at Boundary Road, along its route, the court heard.

Justice Sean Cooper heard the teenager referred to his alleged terrorist plans as his “little future project”.

The teenager pleaded not guilty in Queensland supreme court on Monday morning, and a jury of 14 was empanelled.

Commonwealth prosecutor Sue Flynn told the court he had researched bomb-making, bought chemicals and tested explosives in preparation for an attack and communicated for months about terrorism, bombs and explosives.

She alleged the attack was designed to further an anti-capitalist, anti-technology ideology akin to that of Unabomber Ted Kaczynski.

The court heard he repeatedly communicated with friends about Kaczynski, who was responsible for a 17-year campaign of letter bombing, which killed three people. Kaczynski ended his terrorist campaign in 1995 after newspapers published his manifesto Industrial Society and Its Future, Flynn said.

It criticised the Industrial Revolution and called for a return to hunting and gathering, and advocated the use of violence to spread the message, she said.

He was dubbed the Unabomber in the media before his identity was revealed in 1996 after his capture by police.

The court heard he told his friends in one TikTok message that “the Unabomber was right” and shared numerous memes and other messages about the man, including about his 2023 death in prison.

The Brisbane teenager had a copy of the 35,000-word essay and wrote and updated his own manifesto with similar themes, Flynn said.

The manifesto said society was failing due in part to “the technological system”.

“Ever since its disastrous advancement from the 20th century, it has been a main producer for today’s societal problems,” he wrote.

“The other main producer of society’s issues is man’s greed and capitalistic ideals, which is shown time and time again throughout history to cause wars, genocides, loss of life, famines, loss of autonomy, etc.”

The prosecutor said she would call University of London terrorism professor Andrew Silke, who will give evidence that the defendant had been influenced by Kaczynski and his argument that violence was an acceptable way to further his anti-technology ideology.

“We need to mail bombs to people who have high influence on the industrial society,” the defendant said in one message to friends, the court heard.

The defendant also allegedly had copies of a bomb-making guide.

He was arrested in August 2024, after one of his friends contacted Queensland police.

Police allegedly discovered ingredients for a bomb in a bin while executing a warrant at his mother’s house.

He is charged with one count of committing acts done in preparation for or planning terrorist offences between 23 March 2024 and 29 July 2024.

The court will hear the rest of Flynn’s opening argument on Tuesday, before defence lawyer Laura Reece gives her opening argument.

The trial is expected to run for about 10 days.