The teenager who allegedly livestreamed his attempt to stab an MP was inspired by Christchurch mass shooter Brenton Tarrant and planned even more attacks, a manifesto claims.
Jordan Patten, 19, appeared via video link at Parramatta Local Court, in Sydney’s west, on Thursday following his arrest in the city center of Newcastle, New South Wales, about 12.30 pm on Wednesday.
Patten was charged with committing an act done in preparation or planning for a terrorist attack and police alleged he intended to kill Newcastle Labor MP Tim Crakanthorp and broadcast the event live on the video-sharing platform Twitch.
Police will rely on evidence from the livestream that showed Patten wearing combat gear and preparing alleged weapons, including a knife, hammer and saw, as well as a manifesto he posted online.
In the 200-page manifesto, Patten allegedly makes clear his admiration for Tarrant, the Australian who became the first person in New Zealand sentenced to life in prison without parole for murdering 51 people during two Christchurch mosque shootings in 2019. .
Tarrant live-streamed his atrocity on Facebook and also shared a 74-page manifesto online objecting to immigration and multiculturalism, and lamenting the demise of white, Western European culture.
In the manifesto, Patten allegedly follows similar themes and also expresses extreme hostility towards LGBTIQ people and the Labor Party along with references to so-called incel (involuntarily celibate) ideas attributed to disaffected and alienated young people.
Patten also allegedly writes that he had a normal childhood, but once brought a knife to school and also said he told a school counselor he wanted to kill people, but felt ignored.
A teenager allegedly live-streamed a failed attempt to stab a Labor MP in Newcastle (pictured)
He also allegedly revealed his plans to behead politicians and attack New Year’s Eve fireworks celebrations in Sydney.
Footage from the live stream shows Patten donning a helmet, surgical mask and ballistic vest while wearing a khaki military uniform in a bathroom at Newcastle’s Civic Theatre, showing off his assembled equipment carefully laid out on a blanket.
He then crossed a street and entered the office of Newcastle MP Tim Crakanthorp.
Before the incident and his arrest, Patten shared images of the equipment he would wear.
He then quickly left the office and walked towards the museum on Workshop Way, where a member of staff can be heard telling him “you can’t dress like that”, before raising the alarm.
The employee raised the alarm after Patten entered the building and told him, “You have to leave (because you’re) dressed like that, sir.”
‘Please come out for us.’
The livestream then shows the man leaving the museum and placing his knife and bag on a seat before the doors close behind him.
The man behind the camera does not say a single word during the seven minutes of the video as he calmly walks between locations.
The teenager allegedly briefly entered the office of Newcastle Labor MP Tim Crakanthorp (pictured) before leaving and walking calmly towards the museum.
During Thursday’s hearing, the magistrate told the court that Patten’s alleged crime had “connotations of mental health issues.”
The teenager made no bail application and the matter was adjourned until August 21.