A woman will face court today after being charged by counter terrorism police over alleged threats sent via social media at the weekend.
Just after 1pm on Sunday (13 December 2020), officers from Sydney City Police Area Command were contacted after a media organisation received threatening messages through social media.
An investigation was subsequently launched by the High Risk Terrorist Offenders Unit, and following inquiries, a 26-year-old woman was arrested with the assistance of officers attached to Lake Macquarie Police District outside a unit complex at Mayfield about 11.10am yesterday (Monday 14 December 2020).
Investigators seized the woman’s mobile phone, which will undergo forensic examination, before she was taken to Waratah Police Station.
The Argenton woman was charged with use carriage service to menace/harass/offend and stalk/intimidate intend fear physical harm.
Police will allege in court that the woman sent messages to the media organisation via social media and made various threats over a story that had been broadcast.
She has been refused bail to appear at Newcastle Local Court today (Tuesday 15 December 2020).
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. The National Security Hotline is 1800 123 400.
Further, information relating to any criminal activity in the community can be reported to contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000 or https://nsw.crimestoppers.com.au. Information is treated in strict confidence. The public is reminded not to report information via NSW Police social media pages.
