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Melbourne trio charged after posting videos of pranks online Melbourne trio charged after posting videos of pranks online
(35 minutes later)
Two Melbourne brothers and a third person who have amassed a large online following for allegedly staging hoax terror attacks and posting the “comedy” videos on Youtube have been arrested and charged with causing a public nuisance. Two Melbourne brothers and a third person who have amassed a large online following for allegedly staging hoax terror attacks and posting the “comedy” videos on YouTube have been arrested and charged with causing a public nuisance.
Max Jalal, 20, his brother Arman, 18, and a 16-year-old boy who cannot be named for legal reasons, were charged with causing a public nuisance, possessing a prohibited weapon, and behaving in an offensive manner in a public place.Max Jalal, 20, his brother Arman, 18, and a 16-year-old boy who cannot be named for legal reasons, were charged with causing a public nuisance, possessing a prohibited weapon, and behaving in an offensive manner in a public place.
Counter-terrorism detectives raided their home in South Morang in Melbourne’s north on Thursday morning.Counter-terrorism detectives raided their home in South Morang in Melbourne’s north on Thursday morning.
The charges relate to the trio’s latest prank, in which they allegedly dressed in white robes and allegedly pointed a fake gun out the car window at people in Melbourne.The charges relate to the trio’s latest prank, in which they allegedly dressed in white robes and allegedly pointed a fake gun out the car window at people in Melbourne.
In one of the videos posted online, a man and his young daughter can be seen fleeing from a phone booth.In one of the videos posted online, a man and his young daughter can be seen fleeing from a phone booth.
The brothers were released on bail to appear in Melbourne magistrates court on 20 May, on the condition that they don’t produce or upload any more “offensive” images or video on social media. The 16-year-old has been bailed to appear before the children’s court.The brothers were released on bail to appear in Melbourne magistrates court on 20 May, on the condition that they don’t produce or upload any more “offensive” images or video on social media. The 16-year-old has been bailed to appear before the children’s court.
Arman Jalal told the waiting media as he left the Victoria police complex at Docklands on Thursday that their drive-by prank was “pretty bad,” but that “the punishment… could have been worse”.Arman Jalal told the waiting media as he left the Victoria police complex at Docklands on Thursday that their drive-by prank was “pretty bad,” but that “the punishment… could have been worse”.
“The drive-by was messed up, I’ll admit that myself,” Arman said, adding that he regretted scaring the girl. “The drive-by was messed up, I’ll admit that myself,” Arman said, adding that he regretted scaring the girl. “That wasn’t the intention at all,” he said.
“That wasn’t the intention at all,” he said. Max reportedly said they don’t need to remove the video from YouTube. “Why would I take the video down?” he said.
Max reportedly said they don’t need to remove the video from Youtube.
“Why would I take the video down?” he said.
The 16-year-old said in an interview on Channel 10’s The Project earlier this week that they didn’t see the girl until “the last minute” and that they had spoken to her and her father to make sure she was alright.The 16-year-old said in an interview on Channel 10’s The Project earlier this week that they didn’t see the girl until “the last minute” and that they had spoken to her and her father to make sure she was alright.
Arman also reportedly suggested they were “tricked” into going to the police station after counter-terrorism officers searched their house looking for items related to the video, saying they were told “to go to the station to talk”.Arman also reportedly suggested they were “tricked” into going to the police station after counter-terrorism officers searched their house looking for items related to the video, saying they were told “to go to the station to talk”.
“We weren’t meant to go there to get arrested,” he said.“We weren’t meant to go there to get arrested,” he said.
Ross Guenther, the assistant commissioner of counterterrorism, told reporters on Thursday that they surrendered themselves to police after being contacted by family members. Ross Guenther, the assistant commissioner of counterterrorism, told reporters on Thursday that they surrendered themselves to police after being contacted by family members. Guenther said his unit had been monitoring the video pranks for weeks.
Guenther said his unit had been monitoring the video pranks for weeks. “The nature of the videos has escalated. We believe the tipping point’s been reached,” he said. “When the material was first identified they were less confronting. They’ve certainly escalated ... and that’s why we’ve taken it on.”
“The nature of the videos has escalated. We believe the tipping point’s been reached,” he said. Guenther said Victoria police was trying to get YouTube to remove the videos. Victoria police chief commissioner, Graham Ashton, said police “will charge them whatever they can be charged with.”
“When the material was first identified they were less confronting. They’ve certainly escalated ... and that’s why we’ve taken it on.” “What happens if there was a police officer there who witnessed that?” Ashton asked 3AW on Thursday. “It could be a very deadly situation very quickly.”
Guenther said Victoria Police was trying to get Youtube to remove the videos.
Victoria police chief commissioner Graham Ashton said police “will charge them whatever they can be charged with.”
“What happens if there was a police officer there who witnessed that?” Ashton asked 3AW on Thursday.
“It could be a very deadly situation very quickly.”