By
Editor-at-Large
Although a downtown high-rise building purchased by the City in 2016 as a new space for over 1,000 staffers was closed down last year over asbestos exposure, a greater threat to people in the building could have been uncontrollable fires.
A lawsuit filed this week by a senior City staff engineer claims he warned his superiors about non-functioning heating, air conditioning, and fire systems in the 101 Ash Street building beginning in late 2018, more than a year before the City began moving up to 1,100 staffers into the building in January 2020, but his warnings and those of several outside vendors were ignored by City departments, putting staff and the public at risk.
A subsequent search of his Goulburn Supermax cell in October 2019, when he was in custody for domestic violence charges, allegedly uncovered the evidence of plans to attack law enforcement and military personnel.
With his possible exit from prison looming, police charged Lawrence on Thursday with two counts of acts done in preparation for terrorist attacks.
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The offences carry a maximum penalty of life imprisonment.
âWith the good work conducted by the NSW [joint counter-terrorism team] and NSW Policeâs high risk terrorism offenders team, this investigation uncovered alleged plots to harm the very men and women whom our community members trust to keep them safe,â AFP Assistant Commissioner Scott Lee said.
Date Time
Police charge man with planning terrorist attacks in NSW
This is a joint media release between the Australian Federal Police and New South Wales Police Force
A 24-year-old man who is currently in Goulburn Correctional Centre has been charged by counter terrorism officers for allegedly planning acts of terrorism targeted at police, military personnel and corrective services staff while behind bars in NSW.
His charging yesterday by the NSW Joint Counter Terrorism Team (JCTT) follows an investigation known as Operation Zellaer, which began in late 2018 into a number of people alleged to be engaging in terrorism-related activities. The 24-year-old was later found to be an associate of these people.
Terror plot planned from inside Goulburn Supermax jail cell: police
The man could spent life in prison if convicted.
NSW s counter-terrorism squad conducted a search warrant on the man s cell at Goulburn Supermax in October 2019.
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The 24-year-old is accused of plotting a terror attack from within Goulburn Supermax prison.(NSW Police)
After an investigation spanning more than two years, the 24-year-old was charged yesterday with two counts of acts done in preparation for or planning terrorist acts.
Police will allege that they found evidence in his cell showing the man was planning acts of violent extremism on police, military personnel and correctional staff.
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