Joshua Lucas: Australian ‘who called Brenton Tarrant, Christchurch mosque mass murderer, a hero’ allegedly planned terrorist attack on home soil
An Australian who described the shooter of the Christchurch massacre as a “hero” was allegedly planning a terrorist attack on his own territory, a court has heard.
Joshua Lucas, 25, is on trial at the NSW High Court in Parramatta where he is fighting charges that he researched targets, bombs and weapons and planned a terrorist event.
He was arrested in March 2020 during a raid on his home in Sanctuary Point, near Jervis Bay on the NSW south coast, and has pleaded not guilty to acts in preparation for or planning an act of terrorism.
The Crown prosecutor has alleged that he was motivated by white supremacist, anti-immigration and far-right ideology.
The court heard on Wednesday that it had expressed support on online forums for Brenton Tarrant, the Australian-born terrorist who killed 51 people in the 2019 Christchurch attacks.
An Australian who described Brenton Tarrant, a gunman in the Christchurch massacres, as a “hero” is said to have planned a terrorist attack on his own soil, a court has heard.
He had posted copies of the terrorist’s manifesto and images of the attacks online.
On one occasion, he posted on the social media platform Telegram “hell yeah race war now” in response to news stories reporting that ISIS had called for revenge for the Christchurch shooting, the court was told.
The court heard he also described Tarrant as an “Australian hero” and “freedom fighter” and spray painted a car with far-right slogans and “I heart Brenton”.
Crown Prosecutor Robert Ranken told the jury during his opening statement that Mr Lucas allegedly scouted and explored potential targets, including defense facilities and places of religious worship.
The Crown has further alleged that Lucas searched the internet and took screenshots of mosques and synagogues in the Wollongong region and the south coast.
“The crown claims the screenshots were part of an investigation into potential targets for a terrorist act,” Ranken told the court on Wednesday.
Joshua Lucas is on trial at Parramatta High Court
According to the prosecution, he also conducted reconnaissance at the naval station HMAS Albatross in Nowra and the West Tomerong power station.
The prosecution has also alleged that he detonated several crude improvised explosive devices made of sparklers stuck together and investigated recipes for explosives and their precursor materials.
He posted in a Telegram chat that he would make the Oklahoma City bombing look like “child’s play,” the court was told.
He also asked a friend to obtain a gun permit so he could get ammunition, the prosecutor says.
He also bought military-style clothing and a so-called “Boogaloo” survival kit.
“Boogaloo” is a term used by far-right extremists for civil war.
“The accused has taken steps to acquire military-style clothing and items for use in the violent collapse of society,” Ranken said.
The trial will continue on Tuesday with the opening speech of Mr Lucas’ defence.