WA joint counter-terrorism team charge Jayson Joseph Michaels over allegations he was preparing for terror act

An alleged white supremacist was plotting mass casualty attacks on Parliament House, WA police headquarters and religious buildings, and even tried to buy explosives before he was foiled by police.

Jayson Joseph Michaels came to the attention of authorities last month as part of an encrypted messaging group chat where he allegedly expressed antisemitic and racist ideologies.

Police Commissioner Col Blanch said investigations led officers to conduct a search warrant at a property in Bindoon on Thursday afternoon where they seized firearms, a ballistic vest, gas mask and lock picking tools.

“Most concerningly, there was a notebook that outlined preparations for a terrorist attack at significant locations including the WA Police Headquarters, building, Parliament House and places of Muslim faith in WA,” Mr Blanch said.

“We will allege he was acting alone to prepare for an extremely serious terrorist attack that would create a mass casualty event.”

The 20-year-old was arrested at the Wheatbelt property and on Friday was charged by the Joint Counter Terrorism Team with planning a terrorist act.

Australian Federal Police Supt Peter Hatch said it is the first time someone in Western Australia has been charged with such an offence.

“It’s alleged the man had written a manifesto-style document outlining plans for an ideologically motivated attack of violent extremism involving mass casualties,” Mr Hatch said.

“The man detailed intentions to attack Muslim faith places of worship in WA. The threshold has been met for a terrorism offence under the Criminal Code.

“There are three key components that must be met, including the action causes or threatens to cause serious harm to human life, serious damage to property, endangers life, creates a serious risk to public health or safety, or seriously interferes with critical infrastructure.”

Mr Hatch said investigators still had a “significant” amount of data to analyse from Michaels’ seized phone and devices.

Authorities don’t know how close the alleged attacks were to being carried out, but they will allege Michaels was planning to use firearms and had sought to try and obtain explosives.

Premier Roger Cook said the intelligence obtained by police and their swift response had ensured the community were safe.

“To attack the heart of our democracy, to attack our freedom of religion, to attack those who keep us safe - whatever our differences, we all have the right to go about our lives free from the fear of violence,” Mr Cook said.

“I know this news will be upsetting to Western Australians. It comes on top of a very difficult few months, including the Bondi Beach massacre, the arrest of a Perth man for allegedly being in possession of a bomb in Forest Place.

“The threats are real in our community. We must not let hate and division win - we must protect social cohesion.”

In a statement, Prime Minister Anthony Albanese described the revelations as “deeply shocking” and reiterated his plea for calm.

“He (Michaels) should face the full force of the law,” Mr Albanese said.

“As I’ve said many times we need to take the temperature down. Political leaders have a particular responsibility not to fan the flames of bigotry. There is no place in our country for any kind of racially or religiously-motivated prejudice or hate.”

Police have passed on intelligence to overseas law enforcement agencies about the group chat which Michaels was allegedly part of.

At this stage, they won’t confirm how they became aware of the encrypted messages, and are still trying to determine the identity of the other participants.

WA Police held no intelligence on the Bindoon man and weren’t aware of his alleged terrorist plot until they searched his property.

“I think it’s evident by how quickly we have charged this person with preparing for an act of terrorism, as to how confronting what we have read in that notebook (was),” Commissioner Blanch said.

“If you see someone that’s not doing well and they’re heading down a pathway of radicalisation, whatever that extreme ideology may be, get them help before we end up where we are today.

“I think it pains every police force that we have to arrest these people in the community because they’ve been radicalised online - I would much rather they got help years ago.”

Michaels has been charged with five offences including possessing a prohibited weapon, fail to store a firearm or related thing in compliant storage, unlicensed ammunition and use of a carriage service to menace or harass.

The WA joint counter-terrorism team are continuing to investigate the matter.