SYDNEY (AP) — A judge denied bail Thursday to a 15-year-old boy alleged to be in a network planning terrorist acts and who claimed to be a friend of another teen accused of stabbing a Sydney bishop last month.
The attack on the bishop triggered an investigation that led to the arrests of six teens, ages 14 to 17, who were charged last week with a range of offenses including conspiring to engage in or planning a terrorist act. All remain in custody.
The 15-year-old boy’s lawyer Ahmed Dib had applied for bail Wednesday in the Parramatta Children’s Court, arguing there were exceptional circumstances that required his client's release.
But Magistrate James Viney ruled such circumstances did not exist. “There is an unacceptable risk to the protection of the community,” Viney said.
Viney said he found the boy’s alleged threats to stab Jewish or Assyrian people, a predominantly Christian ethnic group native to the Middle East, and an alleged assault to be “gravely concerning.”
“The messages clearly set up the young person wanting to do something catastrophic,” Viney said.
The boy was already in custody on an assault charge when the terrorism-related charge was added Friday.
Earlier last week, he was accused of being part of group that threw rocks at a liquor store employee. The boy allegedly threw a wooden plank that narrowly missed his intended target. The boy was allegedly carrying a knife at the time.
Prosecutor Rebekah Rodger said the boy had told associates in an encrypted chat group that the 16-year-old boy accused of stabbing an Assyrian Orthodox bishop and priest on April 15 was “my mate.”
Later, the boy's lawyer, Dib, told reporters he would apply for bail to the New South Wales state Supreme Court.
The documents Dib had submitted as evidence of his client’s special circumstances showed the boy had a history of behavioral issues, lacked confidence and had low self-esteem.
The boy propped his head up with his hand for much of the hearing as he watched on from custody via videolink, as his parents sat in court.
Viney said he had “no doubt” the parents were both loving and supportive of their son, and had confiscated his phone after becoming concerned by his behavior.
“They are genuinely shocked as to the charges he’s facing,” Viney said.
At the end of the hearing, the mother left the courtroom in tears.
Police alleged the six teens arrested last week all “adhered to a religiously motivated, violent extremist ideology” and were part of a network that included the boy who is accused of the stabbing in the Christ the Good Shepherd Church as a service was being streamed online. Neither the bishop nor priest suffered life-threatening injuries.
The boy arrested in the stabbings was charged with committing a terrorist act four days after the attack that triggered a riot outside the church.
FILE - Security officers stand guard outside Orthodox Assyrian church in Sydney, Australia, April 15, 2024. Four teenagers plotted to buy guns and attack Jewish people days after a bishop was stabbed in a Sydney church, according to police documents cited in news reports on Monday, April 29, 2024. (AP Photo/Mark Baker, File)
Judge denies bail to teen charged with terror-related offenses after stabbings at Sydney church
FILE - Flores sit on a fence outside the Christ the Good Shepherd church in suburban Wakely in western Sydney, Australia, on April 16, 2024. A 15-year-old boy who claimed to be a friend of a teen accused of stabbing a Sydney bishop applied Wednesday, May 1, 2024 to be released from custody on bail on a charge of planning a terrorist attack. (AP Photo/Mark Baker, File)
Judge denies bail to teen charged with terror-related offenses after stabbings at Sydney church
In one of the most anticipated performances of the 2024 Academy of Country Music Awards, Jason Aldean lit up the stage in a moving tribute to the late Toby Keith.
He gave the crowd an emotional, acoustic performance of Keith's classic “Should’ve Been a Cowboy” as the audience sang along, and Keith's family watched from the crowd.
Across his career, Keith took home 14 ACM Awards, twice winning the top prize of entertainer of the year. He died in February at age 62, following a diagnosis of stomach cancer.
The 59th annual ACM Awards are broadcast live from the Ford Center at The Star in Frisco, Texas, just north of Dallas with host Reba McEntire.
Earlier in the evening, Luke Combs – the most nominated artist of the night, with eight -- took home single of the year for his cover of Tracy Chapman’s “Fast Car.” Last year, Chapman’s 1988 song won song of the year at the Country Music Awards for Combs’ cover, making her the first Black songwriter to win in the category.
Male artist of the year went to Chris Stapleton. “There’s so many great guys in that category and I’m happy just to be included in this company,” he said in his acceptance speech.
Performances hit fast and furious at the ACMs: Jelly Roll launched into a rocking rendition of his new song “Liar,” followed closely by Kelsea Ballerini with Noah Kahan — doing her song “Mountain with a View” into his viral hit, “Stick Season.”
Tigirlily Gold did “I Tried A Ring On,” Texas-born Cody Johnson brought his “Dirt Cheap,” and Miranda Lambert debuted her new single “Wranglers.”
Kane Brown did a moving cover of “Georgia On My Mind.” Thomas Rhett did “Beautiful As You,” and everyone’s favorite couple, Blake Shelton and Gwen Stefani, brought the lovely “Purple Irises” to the ACM stage.
Lainey Wilson opened the show with a cover of Little Texas’ “God Blessed Texas,” flawlessly jumping into her new single, “Hang Tight Honey.” Afterward, Clay Walker and Randy Travis presented Jordan Davis with song of the year for his ubiquitous country radio hit “Next Thing You Know.”
“First off, I want to thank the fans for loving this song,” he said in his acceptance speech. “I love songwriting because of songs that won song of the year, so to be holding this right now is crazy.”
Dan and Shay and Old Dominion took home the prize for duo and group of the year, respectively.
More is yet to come: Post Malone, Parker McCollum, Nate Smith with Avril Lavigne, Stapleton and McEntire will also perform during the telecast.
The 2024 ACM Awards are being livestreamed on Prime Video and the Amazon Music channel on Twitch Live.
For more coverage of this year’s ACM Awards, visit https://apnews.com/hub/academy-of-country-music-awards
Carin Leon arrives at the 59th annual Academy of Country Music Awards on Thursday, May 16, 2024, at the Ford Center in Frisco, Texas. (AP Photo/LM Otero)
Dan Smyers of Dan + Shay, from left, Reba McEntire, and Shay Mooney of Dan + Shay introduce a performance by Miranda Lambert during the 59th annual Academy of Country Music Awards on Thursday, May 16, 2024, at the Ford Center in Frisco, Texas. (AP Photo/Chris Pizzello)
Dan Smyers of Dan + Shay, from left, Reba McEntire, and Shay Mooney of Dan + Shay introduce a performance by Miranda Lambert during the 59th annual Academy of Country Music Awards on Thursday, May 16, 2024, at the Ford Center in Frisco, Texas. (AP Photo/Chris Pizzello)
Bobby Bones, left, and Caitlin Parker arrive at the 59th annual Academy of Country Music Awards on Thursday, May 16, 2024, at the Ford Center in Frisco, Texas. (AP Photo/LM Otero)
Tanya Trotter, left, and Michael Trotter Jr. of The War and Treaty introduce a performance by Kane Brown during the 59th annual Academy of Country Music Awards on Thursday, May 16, 2024, at the Ford Center in Frisco, Texas. (AP Photo/Chris Pizzello)
Tanya Trotter, left, and Michael Trotter Jr. of The War and Treaty introduce a performance by Kane Brown during the 59th annual Academy of Country Music Awards on Thursday, May 16, 2024, at the Ford Center in Frisco, Texas. (AP Photo/Chris Pizzello)
P1Harmony arrives at the 59th annual Academy of Country Music Awards on Thursday, May 16, 2024, at the Ford Center in Frisco, Texas. (AP Photo/LM Otero)
P1Harmony arrives at the 59th annual Academy of Country Music Awards on Thursday, May 16, 2024, at the Ford Center in Frisco, Texas. (AP Photo/LM Otero)
Kane Brown performs "Georgia on My Mind during the 59th annual Academy of Country Music Awards on Thursday, May 16, 2024, at the Ford Center in Frisco, Texas. (AP Photo/Chris Pizzello)
Kerry King performs during Sonic Temple Art and Music Festival on Thursday, May 16, 2024, at Historic Crew Stadium in Columbus, Ohio. (Photo by Amy Harris/Invision/AP)
Kane Brown performs "Georgia on My Mind during the 59th annual Academy of Country Music Awards on Thursday, May 16, 2024, at the Ford Center in Frisco, Texas. (AP Photo/Chris Pizzello)
Kane Brown performs "Georgia on My Mind during the 59th annual Academy of Country Music Awards on Thursday, May 16, 2024, at the Ford Center in Frisco, Texas. (AP Photo/Chris Pizzello)
Kane Brown performs "Georgia on My Mind during the 59th annual Academy of Country Music Awards on Thursday, May 16, 2024, at the Ford Center in Frisco, Texas. (AP Photo/Chris Pizzello)
Phil Demmel performs during Sonic Temple Art and Music Festival on Thursday, May 16, 2024, at Historic Crew Stadium in Columbus, Ohio. (Photo by Amy Harris/Invision/AP)
Thomas Rhett performs "Beautiful As You" during the 59th annual Academy of Country Music Awards on Thursday, May 16, 2024, at the Ford Center in Frisco, Texas. (AP Photo/Chris Pizzello)
Thomas Rhett performs "Beautiful As You" during the 59th annual Academy of Country Music Awards on Thursday, May 16, 2024, at the Ford Center in Frisco, Texas. (AP Photo/Chris Pizzello)
Kyle Sanders performs during Sonic Temple Art and Music Festival on Thursday, May 16, 2024, at Historic Crew Stadium in Columbus, Ohio. (Photo by Amy Harris/Invision/AP)
Thomas Rhett performs "Beautiful As You" during the 59th annual Academy of Country Music Awards on Thursday, May 16, 2024, at the Ford Center in Frisco, Texas. (AP Photo/Chris Pizzello)
Chris Stapleton accepts the award for male artist of the year during the 59th annual Academy of Country Music Awards on Thursday, May 16, 2024, at the Ford Center in Frisco, Texas. (AP Photo/Chris Pizzello)
Jordan Davis, left, and Carin Leon present the award for male artist of the year during the 59th annual Academy of Country Music Awards on Thursday, May 16, 2024, at the Ford Center in Frisco, Texas. (AP Photo/Chris Pizzello)
Gwen Stefani, left, and Blake Shelton perform "Purple Irises" during the 59th annual Academy of Country Music Awards on Thursday, May 16, 2024, at the Ford Center in Frisco, Texas. (AP Photo/Chris Pizzello)
Host Reba McEntire speaks during the 59th annual Academy of Country Music Awards on Thursday, May 16, 2024, at the Ford Center in Frisco, Texas. (AP Photo/Chris Pizzello)
Chris Stapleton accepts the award for male artist of the year during the 59th annual Academy of Country Music Awards on Thursday, May 16, 2024, at the Ford Center in Frisco, Texas. (AP Photo/Chris Pizzello)
Randy Travis, left, and Clay Walker present the award for song of the year during the 59th annual Academy of Country Music Awards on Thursday, May 16, 2024, at the Ford Center in Frisco, Texas. (AP Photo/Chris Pizzello)
Lainey Wilson performs a medley during the 59th annual Academy of Country Music Awards on Thursday, May 16, 2024, at the Ford Center in Frisco, Texas. (AP Photo/Chris Pizzello)
Lainey Wilson arrives at the 59th annual Academy of Country Music Awards on Thursday, May 16, 2024, at the Ford Center in Frisco, Texas. (AP Photo/LM Otero)
Bunnie XO arrives at the 59th annual Academy of Country Music Awards on Thursday, May 16, 2024, at the Ford Center in Frisco, Texas. (AP Photo/LM Otero)
Jelly Roll, left, and Bunnie XO arrive at the 59th annual Academy of Country Music Awards on Thursday, May 16, 2024, at the Ford Center in Frisco, Texas. (AP Photo/LM Otero)
Kendra Slaubaugh, left, and Krista Slaubaugh of Tigirlily Gold arrives at the 59th annual Academy of Country Music Awards on Thursday, May 16, 2024, at the Ford Center in Frisco, Texas. (AP Photo/LM Otero)
Jelly Roll arrives at the 59th annual Academy of Country Music Awards on Thursday, May 16, 2024, at the Ford Center in Frisco, Texas. (AP Photo/LM Otero)
Michael Trotter Jr., left, and Tanya Trotter of The War and Treaty arrive at the 59th annual Academy of Country Music Awards on Thursday, May 16, 2024, at the Ford Center in Frisco, Texas. (AP Photo/LM Otero)
This combination of photos show, country musicians, from left, Luke Combs, Megan Moroney and Morgan Wallen. Combs leads the 2024 ACM Awards nominations with eight, and Moroney and Wallen are nominated for six each. (AP Photo)
Lainey Wilson arrives at the 59th annual Academy of Country Music Awards on Thursday, May 16, 2024, at the Ford Center in Frisco, Texas. (AP Photo/LM Otero)
Jelly Roll arrives at the 59th annual Academy of Country Music Awards on Thursday, May 16, 2024, at the Ford Center in Frisco, Texas. (AP Photo/LM Otero)
