Sydney, Australia – An 18-year-old Australian has been charged with 30 offenses after allegedly operating social media channels that promoted violence against Muslims, Jews, and migrants, authorities said.
The teenager from Queensland was arrested in May after an investigation by the Queensland Joint Counter Terrorism Team.
Australian authorities said the investigation began after the US Federal Bureau of Investigation alerted them to an Australian user allegedly posting extremist content online and referencing terrorist attacks.
Police said the teenager operated a number of social media channels where extremist material was shared and statements supporting violence against people of Muslim, Jewish, and migrant backgrounds were posted.
Officers searched a home in Warner, north of Brisbane, on May 27 and seized electronic devices.
A subsequent forensic examination uncovered files containing violent extremist material as well as child abuse material, authorities said.
The teenager faces 30 charges, including 14 counts of using a carriage service to transmit violent extremist material.
Other charges include promoting, soliciting and possessing violent extremist material through a carriage service, using a carriage service to menace, harass or cause offense, and possessing or controlling child abuse material.
Each charge of transmitting violent extremist material carries a maximum penalty of five years in prison.
The teenager first appeared before the Pine Rivers Magistrates Court on May 27 and was remanded in custody. He was due to appear before the court again on Friday, Sept. 18.
With reports from Xinhua News Agency
