Prisoner charged with planning terrorist attacks from his prison cell
A supermax prisoner with a ‘one per cent’ bikie tattoo has been charged with planning terrorist attacks from his jail cell.
Tukiterangi Lawrence, 24, allegedly targeted police, military personnel and corrective services staff while behind bars in Goulburn Supermax.
The bearded bikie was arrested in his cell and charged with two counts of preparing or planning terrorist acts on Thursday.
An investigation began in late 2018 into a number of people alleged to be engaging in terrorism-related activities.
Lawrence was allegedly found to be an associate of these people.
NSW Police Force’s high risk terrorist offenders unit also launched a second investigation into his eligibility for a supervision or detention order.
Following their investigation, Lawrence was placed on an interim continuing detention order, and evidence discovered by police was given to counter terrorism police.
Police searched his cell, where he was imprisoned for unrelated crimes, in October 2019 and allegedly found evidence of planning for terrorist attacks.
Lawrence is due to appear in Parramatta Local Court on April 2 and faces life imprisonment if convicted.
AFP Assistant Commissioner Scott Lee said the investigation showed why it was imperative for officers to stay one step ahead of violent terrorists.
‘This investigation uncovered alleged plots to harm the very men and women who our community members trust to keep them safe,’ he said.
‘The AFP and our partners will tirelessly investigate and target this type of offending and bring perpetrators before the courts.’
NSW Police counter terrorism commander, Assistant Commissioner Mark Walton, said the results demonstrate the operations behind counter terrorism investigations in NSW.
‘Our investigations teams are complemented by a range of specialist units, which seek to identify and disrupt potential terrorist plans by individuals or groups, monitor those at risk of radicalisation and detect those who seek to do harm within our community,’ he said.
Source: Daily Mail
