A 52-year-old Mossman man, accused of hate crimes against a religious organisation, is loaded into a Queensland Police car. Photo: Queensland Police Service.
A Mossman man has been charged by federal and state authorities after he allegedly abused, threatened and sent antisemitic content to a religious organisation.
Officers from the Australian Federal Police (AFP) and Queensland Police Service (QPS) raided a Mossman property and arrested a 52-year-old man on the Captain Cook Highway at Macalister Range on Thursday (3 September).
The raid was carried out “following an investigation into hate crime offences” and “reports of ideologically motivated threats of violence”, according to the QPS.
An “electronic communication device” was seized and is due to be forensically examined by officers.
The 52-year-old man has been charged with two counts of threats with circumstance of aggravation (serious vilification or hate crime).
The investigation included specialist officers and intelligence experts from the recently established joint QPS-AFP Hate Crime Team, involving the QPS Counter Terrorism Investigation Group and the AFP National Security Investigations.
QPS Counter-Terrorism Investigation Group Detective Superintendent Heath Hutchings said the operation highlighted the partnership between the two agencies.
“The joint QPS-AFP Hate Crime Team reflects our shared commitment to protecting Queensland communities and ensuring matters that have the potential to impact community safety are effectively assessed and investigated,” he said.
“By combining the expertise, legislative capabilities and investigative resources of both agencies, we are better positioned to identify and respond to complex and emerging threats.
“This week’s activity demonstrates the strength of that partnership and our ongoing commitment to working together to keep Queensland communities safe.”
An “electronic communication device” was seized during the raid. Photo: Gilles Lambert.
AFP Detective Superintendent Anthony Conway said he and his colleagues were committed to working with QPS and other agencies to improve community safety.
“The AFP’s National Security Investigations teams target groups and people causing high levels of harm to Australia’s social cohesion,” he said.
“Harm to social cohesion at a local community level ultimately impacts on Australia’s national security – we will not allow divisive and hateful rhetoric to grow and spread more widely.”
The 52-year-old man is due to face Cairns Magistrates Court on 21 September.
Investigations are ongoing and anyone with information should phone Policelink on 131 444 or Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.
Original Article published by Luke Mortimer on Region Tropical North Queensland.
