POLICE VIDEO: Mossman man arrested on Captain Cook Highway after hate-speech investigation
Police news
A 52-year-old Mossman man has been charged with hate-crime offences following investigations into antisemitic “ideologically motivated threats of violence” towards a religious organisation.
The man was arrested on the Captain Cook Highway between Port Douglas and Cairns last week by a newly formed joint Queensland and Australian Federal Police taskforce designed to combat terrorism and hate speech.
Following investigations, QPS and AFP detectives raided a Mossman home and seized an “electronic communication device” before making the arrest on Thursday, August 27.
Police allege the offences relate to “abusive, threatening and antisemitic content towards a religious organisation”.
The man was charged with two counts of threats with circumstance of aggravation (serious vilification or hate crime) and is due to appear in Cairns Magistrates Court on Monday, September 21.
AFP Detective Superintendent Anthony Conway said the National Security Investigations teams are targeting people allegedly causing harm to social cohesion.
“Harm to social cohesion at a local community level ultimately impacts on Australia’s national security – we will not allow divisive and hateful rhetoric to grow and spread more widely.”
Investigations remain ongoing.
If you have information about this, or any other, incident contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000 or crimestoppersqld.com.au.
