An Arizona man has been charged in connection with a religiously motivated terrorist attack that took place in Australia last year. The attack, which took place on December 12, 2022, resulted in the tragic loss of six lives, including two police officers and an innocent bystander.
The accused individual, whose name has not been released, was arrested by FBI agents near Heber Overgaard, Arizona, on a charge in the United States alleging that he incited violence in through online comments posted last December. According to Queensland Police Assistant Commissioner Cheryl Scanlon, the suspect repeatedly sent messages containing doomsday Christian ideology to one of the perpetrators of the attack, Gareth Train.
The investigation revealed that Gareth Train began following the suspect on YouTube in May 2020, after which they communicated directly. The suspect's messages played an important role in motivating Trains to carry out the terrorist attack.
The Arizona man appeared in court on Tuesday and was taken into custody. If convicted, he faces a possible five-year prison sentence.
At a joint press conference held in Brisbane, Assistant Commissioner Scanlon emphasized that the criminals carried out a religiously motivated terrorist attack driven by an extremist Christian ideology. The FBI is actively involved in the investigation and is committed to helping the Queensland Police Service bring justice to the victims and their families.
FBI Legal Assistant in Australia, Nitiana Mann, highlighted the FBI's unwavering commitment to justice, stating, “The FBI has a long memory and an even longer reach. From Queensland, Australia, to the remote corners of Arizona, the FBI and the QPS worked tirelessly together to bring this man to justice, and he will face the crimes he is alleged to have committed.”
This case serves as a stark reminder of the far-reaching consequences of online incitement and the importance of international cooperation in the fight against terrorism.
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