SYDNEY, Feb. 19 (Xinhua) -- A 55-year-old Sydney man has been charged by Australian authorities over alleged threats to kill federal Treasurer Jim Chalmers.
The Australian Federal Police (AFP) said in a statement on Thursday that National Security Investigations officers executed a search warrant at the man's southwest Sydney residence and seized three gel blasters, three slingshot mounts, a pair of metal handcuffs and electronic devices.
It will be alleged in court that the 55-year-old was responsible for a number of threatening calls to the office of an elected member of the federal parliament.
Local media identified the parliamentarian as Chalmers, a senior member of the governing Labor Party who has served as Australia's treasurer since 2022.
The AFP said that the man was charged with two counts of using a carriage service to make a threat to kill, three counts of possessing an unauthorized prohibited firearm and one count of possessing a prohibited weapon.
These offenses carry maximum penalties of 10 years' imprisonment. ■