SYDNEY (dpa): A 39-year-old man was arrested in Perth following an investigation into alleged anti-Semitic comments made on social media, Western Australia (WA) Police said on Wednesday.
Just hours following the deadly attack on a Jewish festival at Sydney's Bondi Beach on December 14, the man reportedly expressed support for the shooters on Instagram.
"I [...] 100 per cent support the two New South Wales shooters [sic] RIGHT TO SELF DEFENCE AGAINST JEWS AND ALL FUTURE JEWS," the post was quoted as saying by local media.
The man was charged with one count of conduct intended to racially harass, one count of carrying or possessing a prohibited weapon and one count of failing to store a firearm or related item in compliant storage.
He is to be remanded in custody until February 3, according to media reports.
Police seized several registered firearms as well as a quantity of ammunition when they executed a search warrant at the man's home on Tuesday as part of Operation Dalewood, which was launched by police on December 15 in response to the Bondi attack.
"The man's eligibility to hold a firearms licence will be subject to review," police said.
WA Deputy Premier Rita Saffioti said that police also found "prohibited weapons and flags linked to [pro-Iranian militia] Hezbollah and [Palestinian militant organization] Hamas."
WA Police are "very concerned" with what was seized from the 39-year-old man's address, including "flags that are prohibited symbols in Australia," Commissioner Col Blanch said.
Blanch said that the search warrant was issued after a member of the community flagged comments made online, which the commissioner called "totally unacceptable" and "abhorrent."
Australian broadcaster ABC reported that prosecutors told a Perth court on Wednesday that a bomb-making shopping list, six registered rifles and about 4,000 rounds of ammunition were found at the man's address.
Two attackers - a father and his son - killed 15 people on December 14 at Sydney's Bondi Beach during the first day of the Jewish festival of lights, Hanukkah. The father was shot dead by police and the son was taken to hospital with injuries. The 24-year-old has since been transferred to prison.
The police say the two had meticulously planned the shooting for months. Australian authorities believe that the perpetrators were influenced by the ideology of Islamic State. - dpa
