Swords, Axes Seized as Man Charged Over Online Threats to Federal Politicians

Several individuals have been charged in recent months over threats to parliamentarians.

Medieval swords and axes seized by police during a raid. Courtesy of the Australian Federal Police

The Australian Federal Police (AFP) have charged a Queensland man suspected with making social media threats against multiple federal MPs.

Police say the threatening messages were made on social media platform X from Dec. 10 to 15, 2025.

The AFP’s National Security Investigations (NSI) team allegedly linked the 39-year-old man to the account—used to post the messages—which they say came from his mobile phone and computer.

A search warrant was executed on Dec. 19 at the man’s unit in Woodridge in the city of Logan south of Brisbane.

During the search, a number of items were seized including swords, axes, and electronic files.

AFP Detective Acting Superintendent Tim Murphy said his agency would investigate anyone making threats to elected officials.

“The AFP supports freedom of speech and political expression because they are keys to a healthy democracy, but we do not condone threats towards anyone in the community,” he said in a statement.

“Police have the tools and resources to identify individuals or groups who seek to promote hate and fear within our community, even if they are hiding behind the anonymity of a keyboard, social media or email account.”

The AFP set up NSI teams in September 2025, specifically to target groups and individuals “causing high levels of harm to Australia’s social cohesion, including the targeting of federal parliamentarians.”

The man has been charged with one count of using a carriage service to menace, harass, or cause offence with a maximum penalty of five years’ prison.

The man was granted conditional bail and is set to appear in Beenleigh Magistrates Court on Feb. 6.

Similar Incidents in Recent Months

The man’s arrest follows a series of similar charges laid against individuals across Australia in recent weeks.

In January 2026, a 19-year-old teenager was charged in Western Australia after allegedly making online death threats against Prime Minister Anthony Albanese and New South Wales Premier Chris Minns.

In December 2025, Sydney man Greg William Tait, 43, was charged with making a threatening phone call to the prime minister’s office. Another 27-year-old Sydney man was also charged in the same month for making posts calling for Albanese to be kidnapped.

In an earlier case, the AFP charged a New South Wales (NSW) man with threatening a federal MP.

And most recently, 19-year-old man, Darcy Tinning, appeared in a Sydney court on Feb. 5 after allegedly threatening to kill visiting Israeli President Isaac Herzog and U.S. President Donald Trump in a post on X.

His threat to Herzog included a violent remark referencing extinction, which federal prosecutors said constituted hate speech and risked inciting others with similar views.