news, local-news,

A HOMELESS man who espoused increasingly violent right-wing rhetoric online this week planned to kill hundreds of Muslims during a mass casualty attack at a mosque, police allege. "My aim is to go to Friday prayer in a packed mosque," Cormac Patrick Rothsey allegedly wrote on Facebook on Wednesday, according to a statement of police facts. "No turning back when called to prayer". NSW Joint Counter Terrorism Team police scrambled to locate Mr Rothsey in the last few days as his posts on Facebook continued to escalate to the point he made clear his intentions to target members of Australia's Islamic community. Police arrested the 43-year-old at Hamilton on Thursday. He was later charged with using a carriage service to menace, harass or offend. He applied for bail in Newcastle Local Court on Friday, but it was refused due to the unacceptable risk he posed to the community. More to come. While you're with us, did you know Newcastle Herald offers breaking news alerts, daily email newsletters and more? Keep up to date with all the local news - sign up here. IN NEWS TODAY:

https://nnimgt-a.akamaihd.net/transform/v1/crop/frm/iKQx4aiD4Q7fvCgDvFeGgz/8b2f1c9b-2791-4beb-adb6-0709bc49629f.jpg/r3_0_1198_675_w1200_h678_fmax.jpg