SYDNEY, Dec 5, 2019 (BSS/AFP) – An Australian man with links to far right
groups was found guilty Thursday of plotting terror attacks against leftist
organisations, local media reported.
A Melbourne court heard that Phillip Galea created a “Patriot’s Cookbook”
— a document designed to encourage others to take up violent acts against
left-wing groups and Muslims — national broadcaster ABC reported.
The 35-year-old’s targets included Melbourne’s Anarchist Club and the home
of Victoria’s union movement, Trades Hall.
Police seized cattle prods and chemicals from his property in 2016, and
the court heard he had accessed information online on how to make smoke
bombs.
Galea claimed the cookbook was intended to be a joke and his plans were to
root out an informant he believed had infiltrated the anti-Islam group
Reclaim Australia, the ABC reported.
“He was a mainstream patriot, he was not a terrorist,” his lawyer argued.
Sentencing hearings will begin next year.