By Riley Walter
A Sydney man has been charged with plotting a terrorist attack at a busy shopping centre after he allegedly threw bottles of explosive chemicals around a bathroom.
On Wednesday, July 24, police arrested Sebastian Newman, 21, after reports of a man acting suspiciously on level one of the Westfield Miranda shopping centre just after 2pm.
Sebastian Newman allegedly planned a terrorist attack at Westfield Miranda in Sydney’s south.Credit: Dominic Lorrimer
Police and shopping centre security have been on high alert since the Westfield Bondi Junction stabbing attack on April 13 when six people were murdered. The incidents are not related.
Police established several crime scenes at the Miranda centre without any evacuations across the five-level centre, located about 30 kilometres south of Sydney’s CBD, and home to more than 400 stores.
Newman was arrested with a knife, a bottle and other items in his possession, police said. He was charged with leaving a substance to create false belief of danger, possessing chemical explosives and possessing a knife in public.
Police on Thursday charged Newman in Sutherland Local Court with terrorism offences after executing a search warrant at a Loftus home where they seized electronic devices, mobile phones and chemicals.
Newman has been charged with knowingly collecting or making a document connected with terrorism and acting in preparation for or planning a terrorist act.
It will be alleged Newman had mixed and unclear ideological beliefs, NSW Police said.
He was remanded in custody to face Downing Centre Local Court on September 25.
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