A 16-year-old boy charged with plotting a massacre at a school in South Australia's Riverland region has been denied bail and remanded in custody. The decision was handed down in the Adelaide Youth Court on Tuesday, December 5, 2017.
Prosecutor Amy Winra opposed bail, arguing the teenager was 'extremely likely' to carry out the attack if released. She stated the boy and his 18-year-old co-accused planned to 'kill as many people as possible' using knives and explosives. The pair allegedly attempted to obtain guns and tested homemade weapons, including a Molotov cocktail and 'poor man's napalm', in October.
The defence requested bail with strict home-detention monitoring, but the court heard the teen's internet skills and weapon-making ability made him difficult to control. Magistrate David White denied bail due to the gravity of the offences, noting the planning involved was sophisticated.
The plot was uncovered when fellow students alerted police. Authorities believe significant casualties would have occurred if the attack had gone ahead before the end of the school year. The 16-year-old faces charges including soliciting to kill and possession of prohibited weapons, while the 18-year-old is charged with aggravated threats to kill.
