Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has revealed that he and his family were targeted by a suspected young terrorist. According to Xinhua news agency, Albanese stated on Friday that his family was included among those threatened in an extremist manifesto allegedly written by 19-year-old Jordan Patten. Patten’s manifesto detailed his plan to assassinate Labor Party members of parliament, expressing extreme views.
Albanese emphasized that extremism has no place in Australia, highlighting the concerning nature of the manifesto and its threats directed not only towards Labor MPs but also his family. He expressed his appreciation for the swift action taken by security agencies and police in response to the threat.
Patten was apprehended on Wednesday by the Joint Counter Terrorism Team (JCTT) in Newcastle, New South Wales, after allegedly entering the office of Tim Crakanthorp, a Labor MP, armed with knives and tactical equipment. Following his arrest, authorities discovered the manifesto, which contained anti-immigration, anti-Semitic, and Islamophobic sentiments, along with grievances against the Labor Party and Albanese.
The prime minister’s statement underscores the gravity of the situation and the ongoing threat of extremist ideologies. Patten has been charged with one count of preparing for, or planning, a terrorist act. Under Australian law, individuals convicted of such offenses face a potential life sentence.
