Australian police investigate harassment campaign and dating app attacks

Police in Australia are investigating two distinct series of criminal activities targeting specific demographics.

In the Northern Territory, a 27-year-old man has been arrested in Alice Springs and charged with five counts of using a carriage service to harass, menace, or cause offense. Authorities allege that since June 19, the individual made over 12,000 calls across the country, specifically targeting women with explicit sexual threats. Northern Territory Police are urging potential victims to come forward as they believe more people may have been impacted.

Separately, Victoria Police have made 47 arrests in connection with 113 reported attacks on gay men via dating and social media apps. The latest operation in the Greater Dandenong area resulted in the arrest of five individuals aged between 16 and 18. Police allege that groups have posed as legitimate users to arrange meetings, which then lead to assaults, robberies, threats, and homophobic abuse. Since January 2024, more than 100 such incidents have been reported across the state, with high concentrations in areas including Manningham, Casey, Hume, Moorabbin, and Knox.