The 17-year-old boy arrested in a counter-terrorism operation in Greenvale has appeared briefly before a children’s court and been remanded in custody on two charges.
The boy, who cannot be named for legal reasons, is charged with one count of engaging in an act in preparation for, or planning, a terrorist act.
Police allege he engaged in that “planning act” on May 8. The teen is also charged with one count of possessing things connected to a terrorist act.
He did not say anything during his brief appearance before a judge at a children’s court on Monday.
None of the boy’s family members were in court for his appearance, during which the teen sat between two uniformed police officers.
Media reporting on cases before the children’s court are prohibited from naming defendants, lawyers and presiding court officials. The exact location of the hearing also cannot be revealed.
Lawyers for one media company applied for the boy to be named, given the high public interest in the matter, but the judge refused the application.
The boy’s lawyer opposed the application, saying the boy’s mental and physical health could be jeopardised if he was identified. He also said the teen’s family wanted to visit the boy in custody, and were concerned his identification could make it difficult for them to see him.
The lawyer confirmed his client was not applying for bail on Monday. The court heard the teen could apply for bail at a later date.
He was remanded in custody to return to court on May 26.
The boy was arrested at his home on Friday during a raid on the property by Victorian and federal police.
Three improvised explosive devices were found at the property, and they were later destroyed through controlled detonations by the police bomb squad.
Police have not disclosed the date or target of the intended attack. Authorities continued to search the boy’s home on Monday.
This story first appeared in The Age
