Sydney teen accused of threatening to shoot Israeli president Isaac Herzog faces court | Sydney

A teenager has appeared in court for allegedly threatening Israeli president Isaac Herzog ahead of his contentious visit to Australia.

Darcy Tinning, 19, was accused of threatening to shoot the head of state with a gun in a post on social media platform X on January 19. He was also accused of threatening to kill Donald Trump.

His alleged threat to Herzog included a violent statement referencing extinction; Federal prosecutors said this constituted hate speech and put others at risk of holding similar views.

The Newtown man was arrested on Wednesday and charged with using a transport service to make threats to kill before being refused bail by police. He appeared in a Sydney court on Thursday.

Given Herzog was scheduled to arrive in Australia on Sunday, the prosecutor told the court the teenager posed a risk to the community due to the violent nature of the threats.

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The threat against Herzog was made amid rising tensions following the Bondi terrorist attack in December, the prosecutor said.

“The current hot climate and social unrest make the threats very serious,” the prosecutor told the court.

“There are unacceptable risks that cannot be mitigated if the defendant is released in this climate of political unrest.”

Tinning’s lawyer, Brendan Green, told the court his client’s comments were “wholly inappropriate” and could result in a significant prison sentence, but insisted they were not directed at any specific person or group.

He said there was no real suggestion that the teenager would carry out the threats.

Green told the court that neither Tinning nor his family had access to firearms and had no history of violence.

The hearing will continue on Thursday.