16-year-old boy arrested in Sydney for making online threat against mosque

A 16-year-old boy in Australia is under investigation after being arrested for making an online threat against a mosque in Sydney. Prime Minister Anthony Albanese condemned the threat, emphasising that the intimidator must be held accountable under the law.

The teenager allegedly commented “Christchurch 2.0” on an Instagram post by the mosque, referencing the 2019 Christchurch attack in New Zealand, where 51 Muslim worshippers were killed.

The mosque, recently opened ahead of Ramadan in Edmondson Park, Sydney’s west, was targeted by the online threat. Police stated that the comment suggested a potential terrorist attack.

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The boy was arrested in Eaton, southwestern Western Australia, and is currently under investigation. NSW Police confirmed that there are no ongoing threats to the community, adding that initial inquiries revealed the source of the threat was interstate.

The mosque’s head, Mazhar Hadid, expressed concern and urged authorities to address potential threats with urgency.

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Meanwhile, the Alliance of Australians for Muslims and the Australian National Imams Council also raised concerns about the safety of Muslims following the incident.

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese reiterated that the suspect must be held accountable, stating: "There is no place for this in Australia ... racism and Islamophobia will not be tolerated."