Police have charged a New South Wales man with engaging in a terrorist act, claiming he was radicalised online by "nationalist" and "racist" ideology before engaging in an armed stand-off at Windang, near Wollongong, last year.
Police arrested Simon Fleming in November after he allegedly fired two rifles at passing traffic on Windang Road before taking two workers hostage at a nearby dive shop.
During a subsequent search of the 40-year-old’s Windang home police seized a number of electronic devices.
NSW Joint Counter Terrorism Team launched an investigation under Operation Bletsoe after they say they discovered several documents containing extremist ideologies.
Mr Fleming faced Wollongong Local Court today where he was charged with engaging in a terrorist act, which carries a maximum sentence of life in prison.
NSW Police Force Counter Terrorism and Special Tactics Commander, Assistant Commissioner Mark Walton said Mr Fleming was radicalised online.
“The internet is the driver of disharmony in the community and some people, as we will allege with this individual, are influenced and driven beyond the online environment into potential and real acts that can translate to violence in the community,” he said.
Police also confirmed they discovered a document relating to the siege authored by Mr Fleming and connected to white supremacist ideology.
“We will allege collectively there is documents which have been created, we will allege by him, and they are connected to the act that occurred at Windang and some other intentioned elements which did not translate into real life," Assistant Commissioner Walton said.
“There was some material that is clearly identified as white supremacist.
Australian-first terrorist charge
The Australian Federal Police Assistant Commissioner Scott Lee said Mr Fleming was the first person to face the terrorism charge who was not motivated by religion.
“This investigation is the first time that we have charged an individual with an ideologically motivated, violent extremist ideology with engaging in a terrorist act in this country, “ he said.
Assistant Commissioner Lee described the Mr Fleming's alleged ideology as "primarily anti-government in terms of restrictions which have been placed on the community through COVID-19".
"But there were also some racist elements there in terms of some other parts of the community particularly some minority communities," he said.
Police set up roadblocks on Windang Road at 9:30am on November 28 after receiving reports of an armed gunman.
The police charge sheet tendered to court alleges Mr Fleming was armed with an automatic rifle and a 1941 bolt action rifle.
An 8-millimetre bullet travelled 3 kilometres and hit a home in the nearby suburb of Mt Warrigal.
During the search of Mr Fleming’s home police claim they discovered two firearms, five gel blasters, military knives, six replica handguns and a police uniform.
They also allegedly uncovered more than 1,600 child abuse images and two videos.
Mr Fleming is facing a total of 17 charges including multiple firearms offences and possessing child abuse material.
He was also charged over a silver brief case which was left at the scene and triggered a response from the bomb squad.
“It was not dangerous,” Assistant Commissioner Walton said.
Mr Fleming remains in police custody.
