An 18-year-old Brisbane man charged with terrorism offences was granted bail on strict conditions on Thursday after police alleged they found extremist material, a beheading video and chemicals capable of being used to build explosives during a raid on his home.
Max Belter, who appeared in Brisbane Magistrates Court wearing watchhouse greens, wept while his parents sat in the public gallery as Magistrate Rosemary Gilbert granted bail, saying Belter had demonstrated "exceptional circumstances." Commonwealth prosecutor Ellie McDonald had argued Belter presented an unacceptable risk to the community after an initial review of items seized by a joint terrorism taskforce.
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 that offence is five years' imprisonment. Defence counsel Samuel Bain told the court that exceptional circumstances applied because of Belter's age, lack of criminal history, family support and his ability to live at the family home while on bail.
Prosecutors told the court that the search of Belter's The Gap home in Brisbane's north, carried out on Tuesday, uncovered an "extremely graphic" 30-minute Islamic State beheading video and a PDF of Terrorgram magazine, which the prosecutor said encouraged lone active terrorist acts and provided instructions targeting minority groups and government infrastructure. The prosecutor said over 50 documents relating to the construction of explosives and firearms were identified among the items seized.
"Evidence located during the search warrant also identified that the defendant was storing precursor chemicals necessary to build an improvised explosive device in his bedroom cupboard," McDonald told the court, and said communications indicated Belter had sought tips on how to buy a firearm. Three weapons were also reportedly located at the home. Prosecutors said the material reflected a "deep ideological alignment" with nationalist and racist violent extremism.
Magistrate Gilbert, while granting bail, noted the material seized but said there was no suggestion before the court that Belter had engaged in preparatory acts of violence or had incited others. She imposed strict bail conditions, which were not detailed in court reporting, and warned the defendant to comply with those conditions.
Court reporting said hard-copy items seized included 32 books linked to extremist ideology, among them Ted Kaczynski's manifesto and Adolf Hitler's Mein Kampf. The prosecution's account focused on the combination of violent extremist material and allegedly stored chemical precursors as factors raising concern about public safety.
Belter was charged under Commonwealth laws that criminalise possessing, controlling or accessing violent extremist material through electronic services. Legal representatives for the defence emphasised his youth and lack of prior convictions in arguing for bail. Family members were visibly distressed in the courtroom during the hearing.
The matter remains before the courts, and further hearings are expected to consider the full evidence recovered by the joint terrorism taskforce and whether any additional charges will be laid.