Australian PM reveals threat from suspected teenage terrorist – Xinhua

CANBERRA, June 30 (Xinhua) — Australia's Prime Minister has revealed that he and his family were threatened by a teenager accused of terrorism.

Anthony Albanese said on Friday that he and his family were among those threatened in an extremist manifesto in which Jordan Patten, 19, allegedly outlined plans to kill MPs from the ruling Labour Party.

“There is no place for extremism in Australia. The documents that have been produced are very disturbing, and include threats not only against Labor MPs but against others, including my family,” he told reporters in Canberra.

Patten was arrested on Wednesday by the Joint Counter Terrorism Team (JCTT) in the city of Newcastle – about 100km north of Sydney – after allegedly entering the office of New South Wales state Labor MP Tim Crakanthorp armed with knives and tactical gear.

He was charged with one count of preparing or planning a terrorist act.

Authorities said that after Patten's arrest, they became aware of the manifesto which expresses anti-immigration, anti-Semitic and Islamophobic views as well as a list of grievances against the Labor Party and Albanese.

“This is another reason why families should be kept away from the media. This is something that is worrying. I applaud the security agencies and the police for the swift action they have taken,” Albanese said.

Under Australian law, anyone found guilty of preparing or planning a terrorist act can be sentenced to life in prison.■