In a quiet, middle-class Melbourne suburb, a family’s world was shattered when their autistic son, just 14 years old, was charged with unprecedented terror offenses. A year after a magistrate stayed the charges, finding the boy had been “groomed” by an undercover officer, the family is still searching for answers and grappling with the long-term impacts of the ordeal.
A Birthday Cake and Betrayal
The boy’s parents, who cannot be named for legal reasons, recount a surreal moment just weeks before their son’s arrest in October 2021. Police officers and a deradicalization program manager celebrated the boy’s 14th birthday with gifts and a cake decorated with the message “We Love You.”
We were so happy on that day, we actually cried. We said, ‘There can be no better place on earth than where we are, they are helping us all.’
– The boy’s father
Unbeknownst to the family, their son had already been communicating online with “Khalid,” an undercover officer persona who encouraged the boy to consider violent acts. Nineteen days after the birthday celebration, the boy was arrested and charged with being a member of ISIS and advocating terrorism.
Grooming and Re-Radicalization
In her decision to stay the charges, Magistrate Lesley Fleming found that the boy had been “groomed” and had his fixation “fed” by the undercover officer. The “re-radicalization” created by the counter-terrorism taskforce fell “profoundly short” of the minimum standards expected of law enforcement.
He was instructed by them … he was caught in something and he couldn’t get out.
– The boy’s mother
A Family Torn Apart
In the aftermath of the case, the family has struggled with deteriorating mental health, a sense of isolation, and a lingering distrust of authorities. They question the actions of police, including the decision to wait until their son turned 14 to charge him, when a legal presumption of cognitive awareness would apply.
If we failed as parents, that should be shared as well, so that other parents in such situations can learn from it.
– The boy’s father
Islamophobia and Systemic Issues
The family believes Islamophobia played a role in their son’s case, with the boy’s mother stating, “They wanted to see him … as a terrorist. They made him a terrorist.” The case has also raised concerns about the handling of other neurodiverse young people charged with terror offenses in Australia.
He is my son. They can’t just think of a human life as rubbish.
– The boy’s mother
Seeking Answers and Accountability
The family is considering a civil claim, not for financial gain, but to ensure that lessons are learned and no other vulnerable child endures a similar ordeal. They call for an independent investigation into the case and broader reforms to prevent the targeting and radicalization of at-risk youth by authorities.
As Australia grapples with the complexities of counter-terrorism in an era of heightened security concerns, cases like this underscore the need for rigorous oversight, community engagement, and a commitment to protecting the most vulnerable members of society. For one Melbourne family, the search for answers and accountability continues, driven by a determination to create meaningful change from their trauma.
