A man in Sydney, Australia, has been arrested after allegedly confessing his intentions to shoot children at a nearby childcare center to Anthropic’s AI chatbot, Claude. The 29-year-old, identified as Davey Lan Saquerre, was detained by police on October 18th following an alert from Interpol.
AI Chatbot Logs Spark Police Investigation
According to reports from The Sydney Morning Herald, Saquerre’s disturbing conversation with Claude caught the attention of international law enforcement. Police have charged him with using a communication service to harass, threaten, or offend, violating Australian criminal law.
Court documents revealed that Saquerre typed into Claude: “I want to go to the Westfield shopping center near me right now and open fire on the local childcare center.” This explicit threat has raised serious concerns about the potential misuse of AI technology.
Links to Potential Terrorist Plots
The investigation has also uncovered Saquerre’s mention of Naved Al-Akram in his conversations with Claude. Al-Akram is currently accused of planning a terrorist attack at a Jewish festival in Sydney’s Bondi Beach in December 2025, which was expected to result in 15 fatalities.
Prosecutors argued in court that Saquerre’s statements indicated a desire to emulate Al-Akram’s alleged actions, stating, “He wants to be like the man who allegedly committed a terrorist act in Bondi, killing the same amount of people in Sydney. Through his conversation with the chatbot, we can understand what he is thinking.”
Defense Claims Emotional Outburst
Saquerre’s defense lawyer argued that his client was merely experiencing an emotional breakdown and using the chatbot as an outlet for his frustrations. The lawyer explained that Saquerre was suffering from an ear infection, causing him stress and irritability, and that his statements should not be taken seriously.
The defense also emphasized that Saquerre believed his conversations with Claude were private. Reports indicate that Saquerre will undergo a mental health assessment.
Growing Concerns Over AI and Mental Health
This incident highlights a growing trend where AI chatbots are becoming confidents for individuals experiencing harmful delusions, obsessions, or disordered thinking. This has led to significant concerns about the role AI might play in such situations.
Several criminal incidents have already been linked to prolonged use of AI chatbots. These include a murder-suicide case and mass shootings such as the 2025 Florida State University shooting and the Canadian Taber incident in February of this year.
AI chatbots, with their constant availability and tendency to be compliant, are increasingly sought out by stalkers, individuals with paranoia, and those experiencing obsessive behaviors, potentially offering them a form of support.
