A 22-year-old man from Perth's northern suburbs has been charged with preparing for a terrorist act, after police alleged he researched explosives, discussed attack methods online and obtained a machete.
Lucas Shawn Cameron appeared in Perth Magistrates Court via video link from custody on Friday 30 October 2026, the ABC reports. When Magistrate Ben Tyers asked whether he understood the charge, he said he did.
What police allege
The court heard Mr Cameron allegedly carried out online research, took part in conversations about attack methods and obtained a machete in November and December last year.
Police allege he used a messaging platform to seek help about "explosive devices, military and tactical training, education, weapons manufacturing, combat techniques and fake documents" as part of planning for an attack.
Details of the alleged plot, including any intended target, have not been made public. None of the allegations have been tested in court.
The charges
Mr Cameron was already facing several terrorism-related charges. Three of those have now been discontinued, according to the ABC.
He is now charged with:
- doing an act in preparation for a terrorist act
- possessing violent extremist material
- accessing violent extremist material
Doing an act in preparation for a terrorist act is an offence under the Commonwealth Criminal Code and is among the most serious terrorism charges in Australian law. It carries a maximum penalty of life imprisonment.
How the case began
Mr Cameron was first arrested after federal police raided a house in Westminster, in Perth's northern suburbs, and seized two computers and a mobile phone, the ABC reports.
Investigations of this kind in WA are run by the WA Joint Counter Terrorism Team, which brings together the Australian Federal Police, WA Police and ASIO.
What happens next
Mr Cameron remains in custody. He is due to appear again in Stirling Gardens Magistrates Court on 11 November 2026.
The case is one of several terrorism prosecutions in WA this year. In January, a man was charged after an alleged bomb was thrown into the crowd at the Invasion Day rally in the Perth CBD, and in February a 20-year-old Wheatbelt man was charged with preparing a terrorist act. Those cases are unrelated to this one.
Anyone with information about possible extremist activity can call the National Security Hotline on 1800 123 400.
Sources: ABC News; Australian Federal Police.
Photo: Stirling Gardens in the Perth CBD, file photo, by -wuppertaler via Wikimedia Commons (CC BY 4.0).
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