Northern NSW man charged over alleged threats of violence made online

A Northern NSW man will face court next month, charged following an investigation into alleged threats of violence made over social media.

In February, detectives from the Terrorism Investigation Squad commenced an investigation after receiving information about threats of violence made through a social media platform in relation to participants of a mass gathering.

During the investigation, detectives uncovered a total of 49 messages with similar threats or offensive content sent from a number of accounts, which were believed to be linked.

Further inquiries revealed one of the accounts was also linked to messages sent on social media to a man in the ACT, allegedly threatening to kill the man, his partner, and their pet dog.

Following extensive inquiries, a 49-year-old man was arrested by Terrorism Investigation Squad detectives at Tweed Heads Police Station about 10am yesterday (Wednesday 19 April 2023).

While in custody, detectives served the man with Firearms and Weapons Prohibition Orders and searches were conducted on his vehicle and at a home at Banora Point.

The man was charged with use carriage service to make a threat (threat to kill) and use carriage service to menace/harass/offend.

He has been granted strict conditional bail and is due to appear at Tweed Heads Local Court on Wednesday 31 May 2023.

There is no current or impending threat to the community as a result of this operational activity.

Anyone with information about extremist activity or possible threats to the community should come forward, no matter how small or insignificant you may think the information may be.

Suspicious activity can be reported to Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000 or the National Security Hotline on 1800 1234 00.