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Technology

Claude AI chat sparks police action after Australian man allegedly threatens to kill children

hellohimachalse@gmail.com 23 Oct 2026 23 Oct 2026
An Australian man has been arrested after allegedly discussing plans to carry out a mass shooting at a childcare centre during conversations with Anthropic’s AI chatbot Claude. The incident has raised fresh questions about how AI companies handle violent threats made during private chatbot conversations and how such information reaches law enforcement agencies.

According to a report by the Sydney Morning Herald, 29-year-old David Lan Thackray was arrested in Sydney on October 18 after his conversations with Claude were flagged by Interpol. He allegedly threatened to shoot children at a daycare centre near his home in Hurstville, southern Sydney. Police charged him with using a carriage service to menace, harass or offend.

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What did the Australian man tell Claude?

According to police documents presented before Sutherland Local Court, Thackray allegedly told Claude that he would “go down to the local Westfield right now and shoot up the local daycare”.

The court heard that he had been using Claude’s voice mode, which allows users to speak directly with the AI chatbot.

Prosecutors opposed his release, warning that the outcome could be “catastrophic” if he breached bail conditions. They argued that his conversations indicated a potential threat to public safety.

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Lawyer claims threats came from frustration

Thackray’s lawyer, Danilo Rajkovic, disputed the seriousness of the alleged threats.

He told the court that his client had become frustrated after attempting to use Claude for advice about an ear infection. The lawyer argued that “there was no weight behind” his client’s statements.

The court ordered Thackray to remain in custody pending a mental health assessment. His Claude account was reportedly suspended.

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How did Claude conversations reach Interpol?

The case has drawn attention to the safety and privacy policies of AI chatbot companies.

Claude developer Anthropic has systems intended to prevent its chatbot from assisting with violent activities. Its policies permit sharing certain information with law enforcement in emergency situations.

Yet an important detail remains unclear. Public reports have not established whether Anthropic directly reported Thackray’s conversations or how Interpol first received the information.

The incident raises questions about the handling of sensitive AI conversations and the circumstances in which threatening statements made to chatbots may trigger police investigations.

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