PERTH – A 39-year-old Western Australian man, Martin Glynn, appeared in a Perth court on Wednesday, December 24, 2025, after prosecutors told the court police found several firearms, thousands of rounds of ammunition and a “shopping list” for bomb materials at his home in the Perth suburb of Yangebup.
Prosecutors said the case began with a public tip-off following an Instagram post that allegedly endorsed the actions of two gunmen who killed 15 people at a Hanukkah event at Sydney’s Bondi Beach on December 14.
The proceedings come amid heightened security concerns following the Bondi attack and as New South Wales moves to tighten gun ownership rules and expand police powers on street protests.
Charges and alleged finds
Prosecutors said Glynn faces three charges: racial harassment, possessing a prohibited weapon and failing to store firearms correctly under Western Australia’s firearms storage requirements.
In court, prosecutors alleged that a police search of the Yangebup property uncovered:
– Six rifles
– About 4,000 rounds of ammunition
– Three flags, with prosecutors alleging Hamas and Hezbollah flags were among them
– A notebook containing antisemitic comments and references to Nazi ideology
– A “shopping list” for bomb materials
Authorities noted in court that both Hamas and Hezbollah are declared terrorist organisations by Australia under the country’s counter-terrorism listing regime, which allows the government to proscribe groups under the Criminal Code Act 1995.
Prosecutors argued that the alleged cache, together with the social media post, raised concerns about potential ideologically motivated violence, though police have said the inquiry remains at an early stage.
Tip-off and early-stage inquiry
Acting Western Australia premier Rita Saffioti said on December 24 that the investigation began when a member of the public reported an online post. “A community member saw a post from the man online, recognised it wasn’t right, and reported it to police,” she told reporters, praising the community response.
Western Australia Police Commissioner Col Blanch told media it is early in the investigation and said there had been no previous “record of concern for this individual.” He said specialist officers were assessing the material seized from the property and liaising with federal agencies as part of standard counter-terrorism protocols.
Courtroom exchanges
Magistrate Benjamin Tyers told the court there is “nothing illegal or improper” with supporting the Palestinian cause, drawing a distinction between political advocacy and what prosecutors allege was praise for a deadly attack.
Glynn, who represented himself, told the court he had been “opinionated” about the war in Gaza and said he had been “hoping to raise the hypocrisy” by creating the Instagram post. He said he was a doomsday prepper and argued the alleged “bomb-making material” was fire-starting material. “I don’t intend to harm anyone,” he said.
The magistrate ordered that Glynn remain in custody while the court considered the nature of the items seized, the seriousness of the alleged online post and the broader security climate following the Bondi killings.
National and state responses
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said in a statement:
“there is no place in Australia for antisemitism, hate and violent ideologies”.
Federal authorities have urged social media platforms and community members to report extremist content, stressing that online expressions of support for terrorism can trigger criminal investigations under the national security framework.
In New South Wales, lawmakers passed new gun control legislation after a marathon debate that ended at about 03:00 local time on Wednesday (16:00 GMT Tuesday). According to the government there, the package – introduced in the wake of the Bondi shootings – tightens regulations on who can own guns and gives police more powers to ban or place conditions on street protests where there are identified security risks. The measures build on existing national cooperation on firearms regulation through the National Firearms Agreement, which sets baseline standards for gun ownership across Australian states and territories.
Key timeline
– December 14: Two gunmen kill 15 people at a Hanukkah event at Sydney’s Bondi Beach.
– Hours later: The court heard Glynn posted on Instagram allegedly endorsing their actions.
– December 24: Glynn appears in a Perth court; acting WA premier cites a community tip-off; NSW passes new gun control laws after an overnight debate.
Glynn was denied bail and will face court again on 3 February, with prosecutors indicating more charges could be considered as forensic examinations of the seized material continue.
