Bomb-making list, firearms, extremist flags seized from Perth man accused of backing Bondi attackers
Police have charged the man with three offences after he allegedly posted antisemitic comments on social media. (ABC News: Keana Naughton)
In short:
Police charged Martin Thomas Glynn with making antisemitic comments on social media after he allegedly pledged support for the Bondi shooters just hours after the attack.
When they searched his home, they allegedly found a bomb-making shopping list, terrorist organisation flags, six registered rifles and a large amount of ammunition.
A tip of from the public led to his arrest, and the WA police commissioner said authorities had "no record of concern for this individual".
A bomb-making shopping list, terrorist organisation flags and thousands of ammunition rounds were seized from the Perth home of man alleged to have pledged support for the Bondi shooters, a Perth court has heard.
WARNING: This story contains details some readers may find distressing.
WA Police on Tuesday raided the suburban home of Martin Thomas Glynn, 39, who has been charged as part of the state's Operation Dalewood, launched in response to the Bondi terror attack.
Police allege they found six registered rifles, about 4,000 rounds of ammunition and flags belonging to terrorist organisations Hamas and Hezbollah.
It's also alleged they found images of smoke grenade bombs and open source information about making explosives on Mr Glynn's mobile phone.
He was charged with making antisemitic remarks on social media and appeared in the Fremantle Magistrates Court on Christmas Eve.
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said he had been briefed on the case by the acting WA Premier and Australian Federal Police (AFP) Commissioner.
In a social media post on Wednesday afternoon, he said counter terrorism police had offered their full support to WA Police.
Raid on suburban home
The court was told, Mr Glynn, who represented himself, took to his Instagram in the hours after the December 14 attack in which 15 people were killed at a Hannukah event at Bondi Beach.
"I just want to say that I, Martin Glynn, 100 per cent support the New South Wales shooters," one of the posts stated.
Floral tributes laid for those killed in the attack at Bondi. (ABC News: Che Chorley)
The prosecutor said the subsequent raid on his Yangebup home found handwritten notebooks titled "ideology, views, ideas and insights".
They allegedly included strongly antisemitic comments, as well as references to Hitler and the Holocaust, the prosecutor said.
Police also found flags of terrorist organisations Hamas and Hezbollah in the home.
The 39-year-old is facing three charges, including conduct intended to racially harass, carrying or possessing a prohibited weapon, and failing to store a firearm correctly.
The prosecutor said police found six rifles and a large amount of ammunition, including about 4,000 rounds of various calibre all over the house.
She said an illegal spring-loaded flick knife was also found in his bedside drawer.
She also noted the Palestinian flag was flying on a pole outside his house, which she claimed was creating angst among some neighbours.
WA Police commissioner Col Blanch said the Palestinian flag was not an illegal symbol to display and not a reason to investigate someone in itself.
Bomb shopping list
Police allegedly found images of smoke grenade bombs and open source information about making explosives on his mobile phone, the prosecutor said.
As a result, police executed a second search warrant at his home, assisted by the bomb squad, she said, and found what she called initiators for bomb making.
Mr Glynn told the court these were matches wrapped up that he used as a fire starter for his barbecue.
The prosecutor said police also found a bomb manufacturing shopping list, but not the items on it.
Mr Glynn said he had a collection of 50 flags and there were none on display, and that they were all packed away in a box.
Martin Glynn's home in Yangebup, in Perth's southern suburbs. (ABC News: Dominic Briggs)
He doubled down on the content of the social media posts, saying he said he had been "very opinionated".
"Watching the massacre of Palestinian people for the last two years, I was hoping to raise the hypocrisy," he told the court.
He then drew a parallel between the death toll from the Bondi attack to Palestinian deaths from the Gaza-Israel conflict.
'I'm a doomsday prepper'
He denied he had interests in bomb-making material, saying he had downloaded information but never procured anything.
The accused appeared in Fremantle Magistrates Court on Wednesday. ( ABC News: Zathia Bazeer )
"Yes, I am a doomsday prepper," he said.
"I don't intend to harm anyone."
He added the notebooks were ideas for a political party.
"It helps me get ideas off my chest so I don't become pent up"he said.
"I keep to myself. My neighbours hardly know me."
Tip-off led to arrest
WA's acting Premier Rita Saffioti revealed a tip-off from a member of the public led to Mr Glynn's arrest.
Acting WA Premier Rita Saffioti called a press conference on Christmas Eve following Mr Glynn's court appearance. (ABC News: Grace Burmas)
"A community member saw a post from the man online, recognised it wasn't right, and spoke and reported it to police," Ms Saffioti said.
Commissioner Blanch described the social media post as "of grave concern ... totally unacceptable and abhorrent".
He said police had "no record of concern for this individual", but it was early in the investigation.
WA Commissioner Col Blanch says police do not believe there is an ongoing threat or wider network involved. (ABC News: Grace Burmas)
"We don't want a repeat of Bondi in Western Australia," Commissioner Blanch said.
Mr Glynn said he had never had an issue with the law, did not have a violent past and had worked as an emergency services officer on mine sites.
Magistrate Tyres refused bail on the basis there appeared to be a strong prosecution case and in the interests of public safety, especially in light of the Bondi attacks.
He said Mr Glynn had identified himself as the author of the social media posts.
Mr Tyres noted the maximum penalty for the antisemitic comments was five years' jail and this alleged conduct did not seem to be at the lower end of the scale.
Mr Glynn has been remanded in custody until February 3.
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