Teenager pleads guilty to planning terrorist bombing targeting Opera House and Sydney marathon
A 16-year-old boy has pleaded guilty to planning a terrorist attack on the Sydney Opera House during the Sydney Marathon. The teenager testified that he was radicalized online via TikTok and extremist content on Telegram.
Why it matters
This case highlights the growing concern regarding the role of social media algorithms and encrypted messaging apps in the radicalization of minors.
The teenager told the NSW supreme court he researched how to target the Opera House with a bombing during the running of the Sydney marathon in 2024./Getty Images The teenager told the NSW supreme court he researched how to target the Opera House with a bombing during the running of the Sydney marathon in 2024./Getty Images Australian security and counter-terrorism Teenager pleads guilty to planning terrorist bombing targeting Opera House and Sydney marathon Boy, 16, testifies he was radicalised on TikTok before connecting to extremists on Telegram
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Prefer the Guardian on Google A school student has testified about falling down a social media rabbit hole that led him to planning to bomb the Sydney Opera House in a terrorist attack.
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