Australian Man Arrested for Supporting Bondi Beach Terrorists
A 39-year-old Australian man was arrested on Tuesday after authorities discovered a significant cache of weapons and extremist materials in his home. Martin Thomas Glynn, a resident of Perth, allegedly expressed support for the father and son duo accused of carrying out a deadly attack during a Hanukkah celebration at Bondi Beach, which resulted in the deaths of 15 individuals and injuries to many others.
Police executed a search warrant at Glynn’s residence, uncovering six rifles, approximately 4,000 rounds of ammunition, and flags associated with terrorist organizations, including Hamas and Hezbollah. In addition to the firearms, officers seized notebooks containing disturbing references to Adolf Hitler and the Holocaust, as well as a list of materials purportedly intended for creating explosives. This information was presented during a court hearing on Wednesday, according to NBC News.
Anthony Albanese, the Prime Minister of Australia, condemned the actions of Glynn, stating, “There is no place in Australia for antisemitism, hate and violent ideologies.” Albanese praised the quick response from the Western Australia Police, who acted swiftly to apprehend Glynn after he made multiple antisemitic posts on social media. One such post included a declaration of support for the alleged terrorists, Sajid Akram and his son, Naveed Akram, who were involved in the attack at Bondi Beach on December 14, 2023.
In his social media statements, Glynn voiced his unequivocal support for the actions of the shooters, alarming authorities and the public alike. Naveed Akram faces a total of 59 charges, which include 15 counts of murder and multiple counts related to causing harm. His father, Sajid Akram, was killed by police during the incident.
The investigation into Glynn’s activities intensified following another social media post in which he expressed a lack of sympathy for casualties, referencing Palestinians killed during the ongoing conflict in Gaza. During his court appearance, Glynn defended himself by claiming he was not a violent individual but rather a “doomsday prepper.” He asserted that he intended no harm, explaining that he kept a variety of flags in his home and had become increasingly vocal in his opinions following the escalation of conflict between Israel and Hamas.
Glynn held a gun license primarily for hunting purposes, and while most of his firearms were registered, one weapon was unregistered. Authorities are now in the process of revoking his gun permit. He has been charged with offenses including intent to racially harass and possession of prohibited weapons.
While the magistrate acknowledged that supporting the Palestinian cause is not inherently illegal, he emphasized that endorsing violence against innocent civilians is unacceptable. Glynn is currently being held without bail and is scheduled to return to court on February 3, 2024.
