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A Canberra-based journalist has been arrested and charged after threatening to carry out beheadings of Christians in reprisal for the Christchurch massacre.


James Michael Waugh, 28, was arrested at his home in Canberra’s south earlier this month following a tip-off to the National Security Hotline.

The former Queanbeyan Age journalist was charged with threatening to act with intent to cause public harm, using a carriage service to menace others and possessing a weapon to be used to kill, ABC News reported.


According to prosecutor Rae-ann Khazam, Waugh spoke to a doctor while in custody and told them of his intention of “luring in potential victims to his house.”

“He also made it clear he would either engage in battle… making him a martyr or to make them look bad,” she said. “He indicated his use of a scimitar, depending on how many Christians turned up and whether they were armed.”

Waugh allegedly posted threats to Canberra’s House of Prayer Facebook page, such as: “I’m going to kill every single one of you dog polytheist c***s.”

ABC News reported that court documents revealed Waugh also allegedly wrote in a group chat, detailing his intent to behead Christians:

“I have issued threats, along with my name and address, to every coward dog church in Canberra,” he wrote. “If you know someone with balls send them along. I’ve bought a scimitar and intend to cut their heads off in my front yard as a reprisal.”


According to the Canberra Times, Waugh’s defence lawyer argued that he did not pose an immediate threat to the community and the fact that he possessed religious beliefs did not translate to acting upon them.

Waugh was denied bail and remanded in custody until his next court appearance later in the month.

Perhaps, what’s most astonishing about this story is just how little media attention it’s attracted. A quick search on Google News will return about four reports from three outlets. Why is that?


Can you imagine the wall-to-wall news coverage that would follow if this man even slightly resembled an “Islamophobic” right winger? Just think of the national outrage that would follow if his intended targets weren’t Christians, but Muslims. So, what’s with the media blackout?

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