Vile messages revealed as Sydney teen bailed over alleged death threats to Israeli president

A Sydney teenager has been granted bail after allegedly threatening to kill Israeli President Isaac Herzog with a pistol ahead of his five-day visit to Australia beginning on Sunday, and made antisemitic remarks online in X posts that also targeted US President Donald Trump.

The threat towards Herzog, whom Prime Minister Anthony Albanese invited to Australia following the Bondi massacre, was allegedly made by Darcy Tinning on January 19. In the post he also allegedly called for the extinction of the Jewish community.

Federal and NSW Police seized the iPhone belonging to Tinning in a raid of his Newtown family home on Wednesday, allegedly finding screenshots of the alleged threats on the device.

He was charged with using a carriage service to make a death threat. The offence carries a maximum penalty of 10 years’ imprisonment. A small amount of cannabis was also seized in the raid.

Tinning appeared in the bail court on Thursday, speaking only to confirm his identity and when asked by the magistrate to share his father’s name.

The federal prosecution opposed bail, concerned Tinning might follow through on the “violent” threat levelled at Herzog once the Israeli president arrives in Sydney.

“An unacceptable risk exists which can’t be mitigated if [he is] released,” the federal prosecutor told the court. “No bail can mitigate against that risk.”

Tinning was represented by barrister Brendan Green, who argued neither Tinning nor his family have access to firearms, and that he had no violent history nor association with extremist groups.

“He has strong community ties, lives with his parents and siblings, is to be a full-time student through TAFE studies commencing in 2026,” Green said.

“He’s someone who I suggest will be able to comply and can comply with whatever strict bail conditions the court considers is appropriate.”

Green suggested a house arrest could be imposed on Tinning, who, under the proposed condition, could only leave his residence with his mother or father.

Magistrate Daniel Covington found that bail concerns were “heightened” ahead of Herzog’s visit and after the Bondi massacre.

Green acknowledged his client’s remarks were “completely inappropriate”, but suggested they were a “completely abhorrent, albeit one-off aberration”.

Tinning was granted bail subject to strict conditions, including a house arrest that will only allow him to leave his residence with his parents. He will be banned from going near or contacting Herzog and Trump, and using social media or accessing more than one mobile phone.

His passport will be surrendered to police, and he will be barred from entering an international airport.

Covington found that strict conditions would mitigate the risk posed by Tinning’s alleged threats, noting his decision was guided by the teen’s otherwise clean record and compliance with police. Tinning’s case will return to court in April.

The investigation was led by the Australian Federal Police’s national security investigations team, established by Commissioner Krissy Barrett in October as part of measures to crack down on groups targeting the Jewish community.

Nationwide protests against Herzog’s visit are planned for Monday.

Herzog’s largely ceremonial position in the Israeli government is similar to that of the Australian governor-general, and he doesn’t have direct influence in government decision-making on military affairs in Gaza.

Rallies in Sydney’s northern CBD and eastern suburbs were restricted for another fortnight on Tuesday, as NSW Police Commissioner Mal Lanyon raised public safety concerns ahead of Herzog’s visit, which is expected to encompass Sydney, Melbourne and Canberra before he leaves Australia at the end of the week.

The Sydney demonstration is planned to take place at Town Hall and march to NSW Parliament House. Both locations are among the places subject to the police restriction on moving demonstrations.

Lanyon has signalled police would facilitate a march from Hyde Park and travelling away from Macquarie Street, but warned against a demonstration “with so much animosity [that] could present a risk to community safety”.

Man charged over Bondi Beach bridge incident

It comes as a 22-year-old allegedly mimicked the actions of the Bondi massacre at the Campbell Parade pedestrian bridge on Saturday night, including the action of shooting firearms at people near the bridge.

Zayne McMillan, who was accompanied at the bridge by another man, is alleged to have verbally abused bystanders after he was confronted over his actions.

Police charged McMillan in Coogee on Wednesday afternoon with two counts of stalking and intimidating with the intent to fear and cause harm, and three counts of behaving in an offensive manner in a public place.

McMillan was refused bail on Thursday. He is expected to appear at the Downing Centre on Tuesday.

The future of the pedestrian bridge remains under intense public scrutiny following the Bondi massacre, as Waverley Council awaits a report examining the costs, timeframes and approval processes associated with either restoring or replacing the bridge. A final decision is not expected until at least the middle of the year.

A structural report commissioned by the council in 2024 found the pedestrian bridge, along with a second pedestrian bridge crossing Park Drive at Bondi Park, had reached “the end of their useful lives” and would require replacement within several years.

Waverley councillor Paula Masselos said security concerns around the bridge had formed part of the council’s considerations at the January meeting, but warned against reacting hastily.

“Incidents could occur on the promenade or from the balcony or rooftop of a building, and we need to be careful not to remove important infrastructure because people are doing the wrong thing.”

Waverley Bondi ward councillor Michelle Stephenson said security had been increased around the bridge following the December attack, including additional signage and increased surveillance.

“As people come to Bondi, they need to be sensitive to the fact that the community is still very raw,” she said.

There have been 10 antisemitic incidents under investigation by NSW Police over the past two weeks.

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