World · East Asia & Pacific · 1 hr ago
Sydney man charged over alleged childcare shooting threat to AI chatbot
Sydney man David Lan Thackray was charged after allegedly telling Claude, an AI chatbot, he planned to shoot children at a childcare centre.
The 29-year-old was arrested on Sunday after Interpol flagged his chatbot conversations.
Police say the threat targeted a childcare centre near his Hurstville home, in Sydney’s south.
He faces one charge of using a carriage service to menace, harass or offend.
Prosecutors argued he should remain in custody, while his lawyer said the comments came during a stress-filled tirade and had no weight behind them.
A court remanded Thackray for a mental health assessment, and he is due to return after it is completed.
David Lan Thackray, 29, was remanded in custody for a mental health assessment after allegedly threatening a mass shooting at a childcare centre in Sydney.
A court heard that he allegedly told AI chatbot Claude he planned to shoot children at a centre near his Hurstville home.
Police arrested him on Sunday morning after Interpol flagged his interactions with the chatbot.
Thackray faces one charge of using a carriage service to menace, harass or offend.
His lawyer said the comments were made during a stress-induced tirade and had no weight behind them.
- Who
- David Lan Thackray, a 29-year-old Sydney man, was charged.
- What
- He allegedly threatened to shoot children at a childcare centre while speaking with AI chatbot Claude. He was remanded in custody for a mental health assessment.
- When
- He was arrested on Sunday morning and appeared in court on Monday. The articles are dated October 19, 2026.
- Where
- Sutherland Local Court heard the case. The alleged target was a childcare centre near Thackray’s home in Hurstville, Sydney.
- Why
- Prosecutors said they opposed his release because of the potential consequences if he breached bail conditions. His lawyer said he had made the comments during a stress-induced tirade.
Prosecution
Thackray’s lawyer
Risk of release
Prosecution
Prosecutors said there could be a “catastrophic” outcome if Thackray was released and breached bail conditions.
Thackray’s lawyer
Danilo Rajkovic said there was no weight behind Thackray’s comments.
Meaning of the chatbot exchange
Prosecution
Prosecutors said they were understanding Thackray’s intentions through his interactions with the chatbot.
Thackray’s lawyer
Rajkovic said Thackray was having a stress- and frustration-induced tirade after seeking help for an ear infection.
Police arrested Thackray after Interpol flagged his interactions with Claude.
Sutherland Local Court heard the case and remanded Thackray in custody for a mental health assessment.
Thackray is expected to return to court.
- Age
- 29
- Charge
- Using a carriage service to menace, harass or offend
- Chatbot
- Claude
- Arrest
- Sunday morning
- Court
- Sutherland Local Court
- Home suburb
- Hurstville
3 sources
What people are saying
What he intends to do is start murdering people in Sydney just like the [alleged] terrorist did in Bondi
There was no weight behind what he was saying
go down to the local Westfield right now and shoot up the local daycare