Queensland teenager, 18, charged over extremist content, child abuse material following FBI tip-off

An FBI tip-off has led to a Queensland teenager facing court for allegedly spreading violent Islamophobic, anti-Semitic and anti-immigrant content, as well as allegedly possessing child abuse material.

The 18-year-old, from the Moreton Bay suburb of Warner, north of Brisbane, was first arrested after a search warrant was executed in May.

Officer also seized electronic devices from the teen’s home, where a forensic examination of the devices allegedly located several files containing violent extremist material, as well as child abuse material.

In the statement released Friday, Australian Federal Police (AFP) revealed the teenager’s alleged actions were initially discovered by the US Federal Bureau of Investigation.

The FBI report to Australian police was about an “Australian user posting extremist content advocating violence and referencing terrorist attacks on an online social platform … where statements supporting violence against people of Muslim, Jewish and migrant backgrounds were posted,” an AFP spokesperson said.

He first fronted Pine Rivers Magistrates Court on May 27, and reappeared at the same court on Friday.

In the AFP statement, authorities say a person making increasingly extremist comments, or becoming fixated on conspiracy theories, contentious social issues or certain news and politics are signs they might be becoming radicalised.

The FBI and Australian Federal Police signed a memorandum of understanding in July, designed to allow more intelligence sharing on terrorism and transnational crime.

The FBI’s representative in Canberra says this latest arrest was a clear example of Australian and US collaboration.

“This is a direct example of our continued commitment to combating terrorism and transnational crime through shared intelligence and co-ordinated operations,” FBI Law Enforcement Attache Ryan Maxwell said.

“As our adversaries become more agile across borders in the online space, so must we as law enforcement and intelligence agencies.”

AFP Detective Superintendent Anthony Conway said the federal police, ASIO and state police forces were committed to reducing radicalisation in young people.

“The AFP, and its (Joint Counter Terrorism Team) partners, remain vigilant and ready to respond to protect our communities from the enduring threat of violent extremism,” he said.

“Protecting the community from harm is our highest priority, so when we receive information suggesting individuals are promoting or encouraging violence online, we take swift action.”