A 19-year-old man from Sydney has been charged by Australian authorities for allegedly issuing an online death threat against Isaac Herzog ahead of the Israeli President’s scheduled visit to Australia.

The Australian Federal Police (AFP) said on Thursday that the teenager was arrested on Wednesday following an investigation into a threat made against a foreign head of state on a social media platform.

Investigation by national security unit

According to the AFP, officers from its newly established National Security Investigations (NSI) team began probing the alleged threat in January. A search warrant was executed at a residential property in Sydney, where the accused was taken into custody.

The teenager has been charged with one count of using a carriage service to make a threat to kill, an offence that carries a maximum penalty of 10 years’ imprisonment under Australian law.

The Australian Broadcasting Corporation (ABC) reported that the alleged threat was directed at President Herzog, who is expected to arrive in Australia on Sunday for a five-day official visit. The visit follows an invitation extended by the federal government in the wake of the antisemitic Bondi Beach terror attack.

Protests expected during visit

Herzog’s visit is expected to draw protests from pro-Palestine groups. Australian human rights lawyer Chris Sidoti, a former member of a UN commission of inquiry on the Occupied Palestinian Territories, told ABC that the Israeli leader should be arrested upon arrival, citing allegations of incitement to genocide.

A UN commission report released in September concluded that Israel was committing acts amounting to genocide in Gaza, a claim strongly rejected by Israel.

Government responds

Responding to the remarks, Foreign Affairs Minister Penny Wong said the Australian government had carefully considered its international legal obligations before extending the invitation to Herzog.

The case against the teenager will proceed through the courts, while security arrangements around the high-profile visit are expected to remain tight.