Four males had been arrested in Melbourne for allegedly accessing and sharing ISIS propaganda, inside hours of the high-profile return of 4 girls to Australia from Syria who had been linked to the fear group.
The investigation was triggered after Australian Border Force officers seized a cell phone from a person at Melbourne International Airport on November 29, 2024.
The man, now aged 20 from Roxburgh Park, was returning to Australia from Turkey and allegedly had ‘suspicious content material’ on his cell gadget.
ABF officers then intercepted a second man, now aged 21 and likewise from Roxburgh Park, at Melbourne International Airport on June 1, 2025.
He was headed to Turkey and likewise allegedly had suspicious materials on his telephone.
Australian Federal Police examined the seized units and alleged the lads had been sending, sharing and receiving suspected violent extremist materials – together with photos and movies of earlier terrorist assaults and different ISIS propaganda. Â
Officers arrested 4 males on Thursday – the identical day the ISIS brides and their youngsters landed in Australia.
Three of the ladies and eight youngsters landed in Melbourne whereas one lady and her son landed in Sydney. Three of the ladies had been arrested quickly after touching down, just one was allowed to stroll free in Melbourne.
Four males had been arrested and charged for allegedly possessing and sharing ISIS propaganda
An investigation into the alleged violent extremist materials was flagged after two cell phones had been seized at Melbourne International Airport
Officers executed search warrants at houses in Roxburgh Park, Clyde South and Meadow Heights.
More electronics and telephones had been seized in the course of the raids. One officer’s firearm was unintentionally discharged at a house in Roxburgh Park however nobody was injured.
The two males from Roxburgh Park had been arrested alongside two males from Clyde North, aged 19 and 29.
Each had been charged with possession of violent extremist materials, which carries a most of 5 years behind bars.
Three of the lads had been refused bail. The fourth was granted strict conditional bail and can return to Melbourne Magistrates’ Court on July 30.
Officers arrested a fifth man, aged 21, at a house in Meadow Heights. He was launched pending additional inquiries.
AFP Counter Terrorism Commander Paula Hudson applauded the National Security Investigations Team.
‘We allege these males had been actively participating within the sharing of this materials impressed by ISIS, a terrorist organisation accountable for mass killings, and violent spiritual persecution,’ Commander Hudson mentioned.
Three of the 4 males arrested had been refused bail
‘We know that intervening early helps to make sure people are disrupted earlier than they attain essentially the most critical ranges of offending and forestall any potential for escalation to violence.
‘The disruption sends a transparent message – the AFP, along with our state, Commonwealth and worldwide regulation enforcement companions are watching, and we is not going to tolerate any kind of hatred in our group.’
If you watched somebody is being radicalised on-line or in individual, name the National Security Hotline on 1800 123 400.
In a life-threatening scenario, name Triple Zero (000).