AFP charge Reservoir man with making death threats and anti-Semitic comments to Federal and State MPs
A Victorian man has been charged with allegedly making death threats and anti-Semitic comments to Federal and State MPs.
The Australian Federal Police say he used social media and email to contact a NSW-based Federal MP and a Victorian State MP in January.
Officers from Special Operation Avalite and Victoria Police raided the 33-year-old Reservoir man’s home on Thursday, seizing electronic devices.
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By continuing you agree to our Terms and Privacy Policy.The man has since been charged with four counts of using a carriage service to menace, harass or cause offence and one count of using a carriage service to threaten to kill.
Both charges carry a maximum penalty of five years’ imprisonment.
He has been granted conditional bail and will reappear in Melbourne Magistrates Court on April 8.
It comes after Labor caved to demands to introduce mandatory minimum jail terms for terrorism and the display of hate symbols as the Government faces rising pressure to take tougher action against anti-Semitism.
The changes passed on Thursday with bipartisan support introduce mandatory one-year sentences for displaying nazi symbols or salutes in public, plus six-year sentences for terror offences and three years for financing terrorism.
AFP Counter Terrorism and Special Investigations Command assistant commissioner Stephen Nutt said Special Operation Avalite warned anyone engaging in “deplorable” anti-Semitic behaviour would be “investigated, located and brought before the court”.
“The community should expect further charges, given the experienced team working on Special Operation Avalite has a number of individuals under investigation.”
