Australian and New South Wales police are conducting a major investigation into an individual using the aliases 'Scorpio' and 'Bullit,' who has sent more than 100 letters to politicians, religious groups, and community leaders since 2015. Investigators released excerpts of the correspondence on Tuesday, which feature distinctive handwriting and contain references to the 'great white race,' Aryan symbols, and the 'Aryan nation.'
Investigators believe the offender is a Caucasian man in his 60s. Some letters allegedly include threatening or harassing material and have undergone forensic examination. The messages often incorporated newspaper clippings about prominent individuals and focused on national issues and public interest matters.
The alias 'Scorpio' references a fictional serial killer from the 1971 film Dirty Harry, who taunted authorities with cryptic messages. The name 'Bullit' may allude to Steve McQueen's character Frank Bullitt in the 1968 film Bullitt. Investigators noted that the author frequently capitalizes the letters 'F,' 'L,' 'T,' 'N,' and 'H.' One letter excerpt included a menacing smiley face with bullet casing impressions for eyes above the 'Scorpio' signature.
Acting Superintendent John Walke of NSW Police stated that investigators are determined to hold the individual accountable, emphasizing that public figures should be able to perform their duties without facing harassment or threats. The Australian Federal Police (AFP) also expressed concern over the content, with Superintendent Nathan Robertson highlighting that people in public life deserve to work without such intimidation.
This investigation occurs amidst a broader trend of rising threats against public figures. Deakin University associate professor Josh Roose, an extremist expert, noted an unprecedented scale of such material, particularly online. He observed that politically motivated men, often feeling marginalized, are increasingly fixating on individual politicians, with cost-of-living and migration being key triggers.
Data from the AFP shows a significant increase in reports of violent threats against federal politicians, nearly doubling from 555 reports in the 2021-22 financial year to 951 in the 2024-25 financial year. ASIO director-general Mike Burgess recently warned of an 'acute concern' regarding politically motivated violence, which involves acts or threats intended to achieve political objectives.
In a separate case on Friday, a Western Australian court sentenced William James King to seven months in prison, conditionally suspended for 12 months, for social media threats made against Prime Minister Anthony Albanese and NSW Premier Chris Minns in January. King's lawyer cited his client's reaction to political articles and online comments regarding housing and immigration issues as the cause for the threats.