© David Gray / Reuters
Counter-terrorism units in the Australian state of Victoria arrested a man
on suspicion of planning a terrorist act. The man was also found to have
links to far-right Australian organizations opposed to Islam and Asian immigrants.
Philip Galea, 31, from Baybrook, is facing charges of
collecting and making documents that would likely facilitate a terrorist act, the Australian Associated Press reported. It has not been clarified exactly what the plan was, but the police says the danger has been averted.
Galea appeared at the Magistrate's Court on Sunday, claiming he would "be fighting the charges and
I believe they are [is] a conspiracy against the patriot movement." He did not apply for bail, and will be remanded in custody until the next hearing, scheduled for August 9.
Comment: Was he planning something specific? Did he just have a copy of the Anarchist's Cookbook? Whatever is the case with this particular case, it serves as a reminder that 'terrorism' knows no racial or ideological limits. Far-right groups were committing terrorist acts (often with state sponsorship) long before 'Muslim terrorists' were even on people's radar.