A teenage girl charged with terrorism offences in the Northern Territory allegedly wrote in her diary that she wanted a particular student dead and plotted with a co-conspirator to carry out a shooting at a school, her bail hearing was told on Friday.
The girl, who cannot be identified because of her age, has been in custody since being charged with collecting or making documents likely to facilitate terrorist acts, which carries a maximum sentence of 15 years. Her arrest on November 3 and that of a 14-year-old boy also charged with terrorism offences followed a joint investigation by the Australian Federal Police, Northern Territory Police and the domestic spy agency ASIO.
At the hearing before Judge Greg Macdonald, prosecutor Hadi Mazloum said the primary concern was the risk to community safety given the extreme seriousness of the alleged offending, including the 'risk of ideologically motivated violence'. He said the girl's diary 'names a particular student and says that she wants her dead'. She also shared a plan with her alleged co-conspirator to carry out a shooting at a school, the prosecutor said.
The girl's defence lawyer, Brooke Houen, said the girl had significant psychological circumstances, including an ADHD diagnosis at age six and suspected autism. She argued that being in custody would not be good for her welfare or treatment, especially with a likely long wait for a trial in the NT Supreme Court. Houen proposed a community-based order with 24/7 adult supervision by her supportive family. The court heard the girl had already been referred to a counter-terrorism rehabilitation program. Guns previously stored in the home had been removed, the court was told.
The girl's alleged co-conspirator, a 14-year-old Darwin boy, was charged with collecting or making documents likely to facilitate terrorist acts, possessing and sharing extremist material, and manufacturing firearms offences. Judge Macdonald adjourned the girl's matter until Monday, November 16, for a decision. The boy's bail application was also expected to be decided on Monday.
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Analysis
Why this matters
The case highlights the risk of youth radicalisation and the challenges of balancing community safety with the welfare of minors accused of terrorism-related offences.
The bail decision will set a precedent for how courts handle similar cases involving teenage defendants and alleged extremist plots.
The involvement of federal and intelligence agencies underscores the national security dimension of the alleged plot.
Background
Australia has strengthened its counter-terrorism laws in recent years, with offences such as collecting or making documents likely to facilitate terrorist acts carrying significant prison terms. Cases involving minors are rare but have raised concerns about online radicalisation and the adequacy of rehabilitation programs.
Key perspectives
Prosecutor Hadi Mazloum: Argued the risk to community safety would remain 'unacceptably high' given the 'extreme seriousness' of the offending, including the 'risk of ideologically motivated violence'.
Defence lawyer Brooke Houen: Said the girl had significant psychological conditions and that being in custody would harm her welfare, proposing a community-based order with family supervision and noting she had been referred to a counter-terrorism rehabilitation program.
What to watch
The bail decision scheduled for Monday, November 16, for both the girl and her alleged co-conspirator.
Whether the court grants bail and imposes conditions such as 24/7 supervision and restrictions on internet access.
Further details of the alleged plot, including any evidence of online radicalisation, as the case proceeds toward trial.
12 claims in this story checked against 1 source: 10 supported.
Show each claim
SupportedThe NT teenage girl sought bail over an alleged school attack plot.7NEWS: “A teen girl has sought bail after being arrested over an alleged plot to attack a school.”
Partly supportedProsecutors cited a “risk of ideologically motivated violence”.7NEWS: “Prosecutor Hadi Mazloum told Judge Greg Macdonald the primary concern was the risk to community safety given the extreme seriousness of the alleged offending including the “risk of ideologically motivated violence”.”
Not in the sourcesThe prosecutor described the alleged offending as the “extreme seriousness” of the case.7NEWS: “Prosecutor Hadi Mazloum told Judge Greg Macdonald the primary concern was the risk to community safety given the extreme seriousness of the alleged offending including the “risk of ideologically motivated violence”.”
SupportedThe prosecutor said the girl's diary “names a particular student and says that she wants her dead”.7NEWS: ““It names a particular student and says that she wants her dead,” he said.”
SupportedThe girl allegedly wrote that she wanted a particular student dead and plotted a school shooting with a co-conspirator.7NEWS: “It emerged in court on Friday that the girl allegedly wrote in her diary she wanted a particular student dead as she plotted with her co-conspirator to attack a school.”
SupportedThe girl has been in custody since being charged with collecting or making documents likely to facilitate terrorist acts, an offence carrying a maximum 15-year sentence.7NEWS: “The Northern Territory girl has been in custody since being charged with collecting or making documents likely to facilitate terrorist acts, an offence that carries a maximum sentence of 15 years in jail.”
SupportedThe girl's arrest on November 3 and the arrest of a 14-year-old boy followed a joint investigation by the AFP, NT Police and ASIO.7NEWS: “Her arrest on November 3, and that of a 14-year-old boy also charged with terrorism offences, followed a joint investigation by Australian Federal Police, Northern Territory Police and the domestic spy agency Australian Security Intelligence Organisation.”
SupportedDefence lawyer Brooke Houen said the girl was diagnosed with ADHD at six and was suspected of having autism.7NEWS: “Defence lawyer Brooke Houen said the girl had significant psychological circumstances, being diagnosed with ADHD at age six and it was suspected she had autism.”
SupportedHouen proposed a community-based order with 24/7 adult supervision from the girl's family.7NEWS: “She argued for a community-based order centred on the girl’s supportive family providing 24/7 adult supervision.”
SupportedThe court heard the girl had been referred to a counter-terrorism rehabilitation program and guns previously stored in the home had been removed.7NEWS: “The girl had already been referred to a counter-terrorism rehabilitation program, the court heard. Guns previously stored in the home had been removed, the court was told.”
SupportedThe 14-year-old Darwin boy was charged with collecting or making terrorist-facilitation documents, possessing and sharing extremist material, and firearms-manufacturing offences.7NEWS: “The girl’s alleged co-conspirator, a 14-year-old Darwin boy, was charged with collecting or making documents likely to facilitate terrorist acts, possessing and sharing extremist material and manufacturing firearms offences.”
SupportedThe girl's bail decision was due Monday, November 16, and the boy's bail application was also expected to be decided Monday.7NEWS: “Judge Macdonald adjourned the matter till Monday, November 16, for a decision on bail. The girl’s alleged co-conspirator, a 14-year-old Darwin boy, was charged with collecting or making documents likely to facilitate terrorist acts, possessing and sharing extremist material and manufacturing firearms offences. His bail application is also expected to be decided on Monday.”
Correction
An earlier version of this story presented the words extreme seriousness as a direct quote from prosecutor Hadi Mazloum. The source reported that description indirectly.