Police have charged a 20-year-old man they allege was planning a “mass casualty” terror attack targeting public buildings in Western Australia.
Live updates, reactions and contributions from ABC readers.
3m agoFri 27 Feb 2026 at 8:05am
Firearms were licensed
Mr Blanch says the firearms seized were legal, and the charged man had gone through the process of making sure they were compliant with WA’s new gun laws, the toughest in the nation.
Mr Blanch says the man was not known to police before his arrest.
He says the man also had a collection of large knives.
4m agoFri 27 Feb 2026 at 8:05am
Online chat room
Mr Blanch says police discovered a chat room where people would discuss their ideologies, which went beyond WA’s borders.
“The JCTT [Joint Counter Terrorism Team] has already undertaken sharing of intelligence to other jurisdictions that are involved, not confined to Australia,” he said.
Mr Blanch says the man lived with his parents.
He described the offence the man was charged with as “extremely serious”, adding the maximum penalty was life in prison.
15m agoFri 27 Feb 2026 at 7:54am
‘Seeking to obtain explosives’
Commissioner Blanch is back at the podium.
He says police had not established a “definitive timeframe” for when the alleged attacks were to be carried out.
He alleged there was an intent to seek explosives and use firearms.
Mr Blanch said he understood seven firearms were seized from the property, all “long-arms”, but not all were owned by the accused man.
Mr Blanch said the firearms were legally owned.
27m agoFri 27 Feb 2026 at 7:41am
Terrorism charge threshold outlined
Mr Hatch detailed the criteria law enforcement agencies needed to meet in order to apply a terrorism charge.
“The AFP and our security and law enforcement partners will use all of our powers, capabilities and resources to ensure hate and violence are not used as weapons to silence communities,” he says.
“If anyone has information that a person holds extreme views and is mobilising to violence, please call the national security hotline on 1800 123 400.”
32m agoFri 27 Feb 2026 at 7:37am
‘Manifesto-style’ document
AFP Superintendent Peter Hatch says it is the first time the charge of preparing for a terrorist act has been laid in Western Australia.
“It’s alleged the man had written a manifesto-style document outlining plans for an ideologically motivated attack of violent extremism involving mass casualties,” Mr Hatch said.
He said police were still assessing a “significant amount of digital data”, however the Joint Counter Terrorism Team was “satisfied the threshold has been met” to lay a terrorism charge.
36m agoFri 27 Feb 2026 at 7:32am
‘Confined event’
Commissioner Blanch says police believe there is no threat to community safety.
“This is a confined event, a person is in custody, we do not believe the community is now at risk at all,” he says.
“The investigation will continue in relation to downloading of devices.”
36m agoFri 27 Feb 2026 at 7:32am
Notebook seized
Mr Blanch says police carried out a search yesterday and seized firearms, imitation firearms, a ballistics vest, gas masks and lock-picking equipment.
“Most concerningly, there was a notebook outlining plans for a terrorist attack at significant locations,” he said.
Those locations are WA Police Headquarters, Parliament House and places of Muslim faith.
“I still maintain Western Australia is a very safe place,” Mr Blanch says.
“But this just shows how vigilant we must all be.”
Mr Blanch says police allege the man was acting alone.
41m agoFri 27 Feb 2026 at 7:27am
‘Anti-Muslim ideology’
WA Police Commissioner Col Blanch is now speaking.
He said police had “received intelligence about some communications on an encrypted communications platform” in January and February.
Mr Blanch alleged the communications contained “white supremacy ideology” and “anti-Muslim ideology”, “antisemitism” and other conversations about minority groups he described as “abhorrent”.
His bail was refused in court this afternoon.
49m agoFri 27 Feb 2026 at 7:19am
Leaders being briefed
Mr Cook says political and religious leaders were being briefed on the incident this afternoon.
“A short time ago I spoke to the prime minister who has been fully briefed by the AFP,” he says.
51m agoFri 27 Feb 2026 at 7:18am
Premier credits officers
Mr Cook thanks officers who executed a search warrant and arrested the man.
He says their actions “had prevented an alleged act of terror in our city” to “attack the heart of our democracy”.
“Whatever our differences, we all have the right to go about our lives free from the fear of violence,” he says.
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Jayson Joseph Michaels, 20, from the town of Bindoon north of Perth, appeared in the Perth Magistrates Court on Friday, facing five charges.
WA’s Premier Roger Cook said at a press conference on Friday it would be alleged he was plotting to attack public buildings including WA parliament house, police headquarters and Muslim faith places of worship.
WA’s Joint Counter Terrorism Team — made up of WA Police, the Australian Federal Police and ASIO — confirmed they had been investigating Mr Michaels’ online activities.
They said that led them to execute a search warrant at his home in Bindoon.
Mr Michaels has been charged with acting in preparation for a terrorist act, using a carriage service to menace or harass, possessing a prohibited weapon and two firearms offences.
WA Premier Roger Cook says there is no ongoing threat in the community. (ABC News: Keane Bourke)
It’s alleged Mr Michaels was motivated by a white supremacist ideology, Mr Cook told media on Friday afternoon.
“There is no ongoing threat,” he said.
WA Police Commissioner Col Blanch said police had been investigating the man’s online activities since January.
“We have now seized firearms, imitation firearms, a ballistic vest, gas masks, lock picking equipment,” he said.
WA police commissioner Col Blanch says police has been looking into the accused’s online activities since January. (ABC News: Keane Bourke)
“Most concerningly, there was a notebook that outlined preparations for a terrorist attack at significant locations including the WA police headquarters building, parliament house, and places of Muslim faith in WA,” Mr Blanch said it would be alleged.
Commissioner Blanch said police would allege the man was acting alone, adding the charge was “extremely serious” and has a maximum penalty of life in prison.
He said seven firearms had been seized and a large knife collection.
Commissioner Blanch said the man lived with his parents and alleged he had been radicalised online.
“There is a 20-year-old man alleged to have extreme violent thoughts about hurting others,” he said.
The police would be briefing Muslim community leaders on Friday afternoon, Commissioner Blanch said, and security had been bolstered at Muslim places of worship and  Parliament House.
Australian Federal Police Superintendent Peter Hatch said it was the first time a person had been charged with preparing for a terrorist act in WA.
Court appearance
In the Perth Magistrates Court on Friday afternoon, Mr Michaels shook his head when Magistrate Belinda Coleman asked if he understood the offences.
That includes the charge of ‘doing an act in preparation for a terrorist act’ spanning between December 13 last year and February 26 this year.
Mr Michaels appeared in the Perth Magistrates Court on Friday afternoon. (ABC News: Mya Kordic)
The court was told police found a notepad at his address with entries that start from mid-December to a few days ago that allegedly indicate the preparation.
The commonwealth prosecutor said the strength of the case was reliant on the diary, as well as Telegram posts.
Mr Michael’s lawyer Roman Kan said he was concerned for his client’s mental health.
He asked the magistrate to order a home detention report in preparation for a bail application hearing.
“You have to demonstrate exceptional reasons as to why you should be released from custody,” Magistrate Colman told Mr Michaels.
“It’s an exceptionally high bar.”
Mr Michaels will appear in court again on March 23.
Identity of man charged over Perth alleged terrorism act revealed
The charges come weeks after a 31-year-old Perth man was charged with committing a terrorist act — the first such charge laid in WA’s history.
That man, Liam Alexander Hall, is accused of throwing a homemade bomb into a large crowd of people gathered for an Invasion Day rally in Perth’s CBD on January 26.
The device, which police claimed was filled with screws and ball bearings and designed to explode on impact, failed to detonate.
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