Jakarta –
A shooting in Australia that killed six people has been declared a religiously motivated terrorist attack.
Authorities say this is the first time Christian extremist ideology has been linked to a terror attack in Australia.
Two policemen and a neighbor were killed when Nathaniel, Stacey and Gareth Train opened fire in Queensland in December 2022.
The three were later shot dead after opening fire on police.
Police are still investigating whether the group – brothers Nathaniel and Gareth, as well as Stacey, who married both men at different times – is linked to the conspiracy theory.
Queensland Police Deputy Commissioner Tracey Lindford said their investigation had found Nathaniel, Gareth and Stacey “acting as an autonomous group” and “conducting a religiously motivated terrorist attack”.
They adhere to a fundamentalist Christian belief system known as “pre-millennialism”, and target the police.
“They called the police monsters and devils – devils.”
“Christian extremist ideology has been linked to other attacks around the world, but this is the first time we’ve seen it emerge in Australia,” Lindford said.
He said the attack was premeditated and investigators had found “significant evidence” of advance preparation and planning.
Gareth and Stacey’s home has been equipped with camouflaged hiding places, barricades, mounds of earth, firearms, knives, CCTV and mirrors in the trees.
Although there was “no evidence” that anyone else in Australia participated or assisted in the attack, Linford said Nathaniel, Gareth and Stacey had been linked to a number of individuals in the United States. Local police have shared the information with investigators in the country
“They will determine what investigations they may undertake as a result of that information,” Lindford said.
Queensland Police went to the remote Train family home – about 270 km west of Brisbane – on December 12 to check on Nathaniel Train who was reported missing in New South Wales.
Four policemen were shot at as soon as they got out of the car to approach Gareth and Stacey’s house.
Two policemen – Matthew Arnold, 26, and Rachel McCrow, 29 – were shot. They were reportedly shot again as they were executed. Another trooper is injured but flees, while a fourth trooper is terrorized by the shooter who starts a fire to try to drive him away.
A neighbor, Alan Dare, 58, who showed up at the Trains’ home to assist police was also shot dead.
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Lindford said there was “no trigger” for the extremism of Nathaniel, Stacey and Gareth Train.
However, police believe Nathaniel’s heart attack in 2021 “was a profound moment for him and his faith in God”, said Lindford.
The fact that Gareth and Stacey lost their jobs because they were required to receive the Covid-19 vaccine also increased their anti-government views.
Lindford said the mental health of the three men had also been considered by investigators, but that factor was later ruled out.
“We see quite often in our terrorist investigations that people are easily radicalized due to mental health impacts.”
“[Namun] when three people get together it’s hard to say there’s a mental health issue in this.”
Queensland Police Deputy Commissioner Tracey Lindford said the attack would be investigated in court, which would then determine what the motives of the three men were.
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