Perth man charged with planning terrorist attack, faces possible life sentence

Police in Western Australia announced on Friday that a 22‑year‑old man from Perth will face an additional charge of planning a terrorist act, raising the maximum penalty to life imprisonment. The charge was added to a series of terrorism‑related offences for which the man has been in court since December.

Investigators said the man used an online messaging platform to request assistance with explosive devices, military and tactical training, weapons manufacturing, combat techniques and the creation of false documents. A forensic examination of an electronic device seized from his property reportedly uncovered violent extremist material, as well as text messages and phone calls to a woman known to the suspect.

The suspect was originally charged on December 4 with possessing or controlling violent extremist material accessed via a carriage service, along with four bail‑breach offences. In October he was also charged with assault and threats to kill the same woman, leading to his bail being revoked. Later in December, two additional counts were added for collecting or making a document linked to a terrorist act and for possessing a related item, as well as another count for possessing extremist material in data form.

Following the new planning charge, police agreed to withdraw the earlier counts relating to the collection of a terrorist‑linked document and possession of a related item. The man is scheduled to appear before the Supreme Court of Western Australia on Friday, where the expanded charges will be heard.

If convicted of the planning charge, the suspect could receive a life sentence, reflecting the seriousness with which Western Australian authorities are treating the alleged preparation for a terrorist attack.