A Moroccan man detained at a Western Australia immigration facility has been arrested following a series of harassing and threatening phone calls directed at Australian Federal Police (AFP) officers. The 45-year-old allegedly made 297 intimidating calls between May 31 and July 24, with one call reportedly including a threat to kill.
The arrest took place at the Yongah Hill Immigration Detention Centre, located northeast of Perth, on Thursday. During a court hearing at the Perth Magistrates Court, it was revealed that the calls were described as “aggressive,” causing not only frustration for the AFP but also distress for those who received them, according to AFP Detective Acting Inspector Karen Addiscott. The inspector noted that such calls not only waste police resources but can interrupt genuine emergency calls, potentially diverting attention away from cases that require immediate assistance.
The accused faces charges of making threats via a communication service as well as harassment and menacing conduct. He has been remanded in custody and is scheduled to appear in court again on September 12.