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| Brisbane teen faces court on terrorism charges after violent extremist material and chemicals allegedly seized | Brisbane teen faces court on terrorism charges after violent extremist material and chemicals allegedly seized |
| (30 minutes later) | |
| Max Belter, 18, had a document linked to ‘proscribed terrorist organisations’ on his electronic devices, police allege | Max Belter, 18, had a document linked to ‘proscribed terrorist organisations’ on his electronic devices, police allege |
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| A teenager charged with terrorism offences has wept in court after violent extremist material and chemicals for explosives were allegedly found during a police raid. | A teenager charged with terrorism offences has wept in court after violent extremist material and chemicals for explosives were allegedly found during a police raid. |
| Max Belter, 18, appeared in a green prison jumper in Brisbane magistrates court on Thursday after a joint terrorism taskforce searched his property at The Gap in Brisbane’s north. | Max Belter, 18, appeared in a green prison jumper in Brisbane magistrates court on Thursday after a joint terrorism taskforce searched his property at The Gap in Brisbane’s north. |
| Belter had a video and a document linked to “proscribed terrorist organisations” on his electronic devices, police alleged. | Belter had a video and a document linked to “proscribed terrorist organisations” on his electronic devices, police alleged. |
| Devices containing a “large amount” of data, books associated with nationalist and racist violent extremism, and chemicals were among the items seized in Tuesday’s raid, investigators said. | Devices containing a “large amount” of data, books associated with nationalist and racist violent extremism, and chemicals were among the items seized in Tuesday’s raid, investigators said. |
| Belter became emotional soon after entering court with his parents present as he applied for bail. | Belter became emotional soon after entering court with his parents present as he applied for bail. |
| The 18-year-old broke down when he was escorted into court before dropping his head and covering his face with his hands. | The 18-year-old broke down when he was escorted into court before dropping his head and covering his face with his hands. |
| His father sobbed as he watched the proceedings. | His father sobbed as he watched the proceedings. |
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| Defence counsel Samuel Bain said exceptional circumstances should apply to his client for bail, including his age, lack of criminal history, support in court and ability to undertake bail at the family home. | Defence counsel Samuel Bain said exceptional circumstances should apply to his client for bail, including his age, lack of criminal history, support in court and ability to undertake bail at the family home. |
| But commonwealth prosecutor Ellie McDonald argued Belter was an unacceptable risk to the community based on his alleged offending. | But commonwealth prosecutor Ellie McDonald argued Belter was an unacceptable risk to the community based on his alleged offending. |
| McDonald said an extensive review of devices seized had not been undertaken. | McDonald said an extensive review of devices seized had not been undertaken. |
| But she said an initial review had identified extensive materials “indicative of deep ideological alignment” with nationalist extremism. | But she said an initial review had identified extensive materials “indicative of deep ideological alignment” with nationalist extremism. |
| “Over 50 documents were identified relating to the construction of explosives and firearms,” she told the magistrate Rosemary Gilbert. | |
| Belter had shown a “strong” interest in violence and was found in possession of a horrific 30-minute video, McDonald said. | Belter had shown a “strong” interest in violence and was found in possession of a horrific 30-minute video, McDonald said. |
| He was also alleged to have stored chemicals in his cupboard necessary to build an improvised explosive device. | He was also alleged to have stored chemicals in his cupboard necessary to build an improvised explosive device. |
| “The defendant is alleged to have encouraged others to engage in violent behaviour, enlivening an additional risk that the defendant may encourage others to commit violence in addition to his own personal conduct,” McDonald said. | “The defendant is alleged to have encouraged others to engage in violent behaviour, enlivening an additional risk that the defendant may encourage others to commit violence in addition to his own personal conduct,” McDonald said. |
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| Belter is also alleged to have used the dark web to source information. | Belter is also alleged to have used the dark web to source information. |
| “The defendant has not shown that there are exceptional circumstances and bail should be refused,” McDonald said. | “The defendant has not shown that there are exceptional circumstances and bail should be refused,” McDonald said. |
| “The risk the defendant poses of committing an offence that endangers the safety of the community or safety or welfare of a person is clearly unacceptable in this instance when considering the severity of the alleged offences.” | “The risk the defendant poses of committing an offence that endangers the safety of the community or safety or welfare of a person is clearly unacceptable in this instance when considering the severity of the alleged offences.” |
| Gilbert reserved her decision on the bail application until Thursday afternoon. | Gilbert reserved her decision on the bail application until Thursday afternoon. |
| Belter has been charged with two counts of possessing and controlling violent extremist material obtained or accessed using a carriage service. | Belter has been charged with two counts of possessing and controlling violent extremist material obtained or accessed using a carriage service. |
| The maximum penalty for the offence is five years in jail. | The maximum penalty for the offence is five years in jail. |
| Belter looked to his father as he was escorted out of court. | Belter looked to his father as he was escorted out of court. |
| “We love you Maxy,” his father said from the gallery. | “We love you Maxy,” his father said from the gallery. |