A 13-year-old boy has been charged by police over an alleged plot to attack a local school, following an alleged shocking discovery by the Joint Counter Terrorism Team.

BRISBANE, AUSTRALIA. NewsWire Photos NOVEMBER 17, 2025. A Generic picture of a Queensland Police Service vehicle. Picture: NewsWire/Glenn Campbell

Police have charged a 13-year-old boy over an alleged plot to carry out an act of violence at a Queensland school.

Officers first came into contact with the boy when he allegedly threatened occupants at a Maryborough business with a large knife and dressed in a disguise on May 20.

He was dealt with under the provisions of the Youth Justice Act for one count each of attempting to enter premises with intent, going armed so as to cause fear, making threats and possessing a thing intended for use in connection with an offence.

A 13-year-old boy allegedly planned to carry out an act of violence at a Queensland school. Picture: NewsWire/Glenn Campbell
Following further investigations, detectives from the Counter Terrorism Investigation Unit and Maryborough Child Protection Investigation Unit executed a search warrant at a Maryborough address on May 30.

An electronic device was seized.

The boy has been charged with one count each of preparation or planning to cause death or grievous bodily harm and possessing or controlling violent extremist material obtained or accessed using a carriage of service.

He will front Hervey Bay Childrens Court on June 5, following a brief court appearance on Monday.

Detective Inspector Jason Hindmarsh said there was evidence he was allegedly planning for death and grievous bodily harm and intended to cause harm at a local school.

He said it was too early to say if it was ideologically motivated, but said the boy was allegedly quite advanced in his intention to cause death and grievous bodily harm.

The boy has been charged with one count each of preparation or planning to cause death or grievous bodily harm and possessing or controlling violent extremist material obtained or accessed using a carriage of service.. Picture: NewsWire/Glenn Campbell
“He did intend to cause harm at a local school,” Mr Hindmarsh said.

“The actions of the youth on that day did involve a threat to a local school.

“There were threats made to employees of the business, and we now have evidence that details the threat to the local school.

“There are a range of security measures in place, but I must stress, there is no ongoing threat to the community.”

Mr Hindmarsh said while the threat was imminent it was no longer present because the boy had been taken into custody.

“But yeah, he was quite well advanced in his intention to cause death and GBH,” he said.

Police will return to Maryborough to conduct further inquiries with frontline officers and child protection services on Tuesday.