Australian PM Calls Alleged Western Australia Terror Plot “Deeply Shocking” After Arrest

Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has described the arrest of a Western Australian man over an alleged terror plot as “deeply shocking,” following police claims that the suspect was planning attacks targeting mosques, police headquarters, and Parliament House.

The 20-year-old man from Bindoon, a town located about 63 kilometers north of Perth, was formally charged with planning a terrorist act. According to Western Australia Police, investigators uncovered a manifesto allegedly outlining plans for a mass casualty attack. Authorities claim the suspect intended to target the Muslim community by attacking mosques, as well as Western Australia’s police headquarters and the state’s Parliament House.

In a statement posted on X late Friday, Albanese said the allegations were particularly distressing due to the racially motivated nature of the suspected plot. He emphasized that any attempt to target religious communities or public institutions would be met with the full force of the law. The Prime Minister reaffirmed Australia’s commitment to national security and community safety, especially in protecting minority groups from extremist violence.

The arrest adds to a series of terrorism-related incidents in Australia in recent months. On January 26, police foiled an alleged attempt to bomb a rally in Perth protesting Australia Day. In December, the country experienced one of its deadliest attacks in nearly three decades when two gunmen opened fire at a Hanukkah celebration at Sydney’s Bondi Beach, killing 15 people. Authorities believe the attackers were influenced by the extremist group Islamic State.

Australian security agencies continue to monitor potential extremist threats as concerns grow over both racially motivated violence and radicalization. Officials have urged communities to remain vigilant and report suspicious activity as law enforcement works to prevent further terrorist incidents across the country.