A 24-year-old PhD student and robotics researcher has been charged with planning a terrorist attack on Australia Day. Sepehr Saryazdi appeared in Brisbane Magistrates Court on Thursday after counter-terrorism police arrested him over an alleged plot to lead a riot on the Gold Coast.
The court heard that Saryazdi, a decorated academic and CSIRO Data61 PhD candidate, allegedly discussed plans with 50 others in a Facebook group. Messages included instructions for making Molotov cocktails, with Saryazdi allegedly buying supplies and urging others to do the same. One message read: 'I'll be leading the Gold Coast riots on Jan 26.'
Saryazdi also allegedly advised group members on what to do if arrested, writing: 'If arrested, the key is to stay calm and collected... you need to make the police doubt their own world views and convince them to quit their job.' He also allegedly encouraged members to learn to use firearms and apply for jobs at ASIO or the Australian Defence Force.
The court heard that Saryazdi believed the Australian government should be replaced with a cybernetic system. His lawyer, Hellen Shilton, said her client had been influenced by new associates but 'it was never his intention to hurt anyone'. She added that he felt overwhelmed emotionally and had been crying.
Saryazdi was refused bail and remanded in custody until February. He had been working as an industry PhD candidate with CSIRO's Data61 Robotics and Autonomous Systems Group and the Australian Centre for Robotics, and also tutored at the University of Sydney.
