Home / Crime and Justice / Melbourne Man Held for ISIS Material at Airport
Melbourne Man Held for ISIS Material at Airport
13 Sep
Summary
- A man was arrested at Melbourne Airport for possessing violent extremist propaganda.
- He is accused of being part of a group chat sharing extremist material.
- The AFP stated early intervention is vital to prevent escalation to violence.
A 30-year-old man from Roxburgh Park, Melbourne, has been arrested at Melbourne Airport while attempting to fly to the Middle East. The Australian Federal Police (AFP) charged him with possessing violent extremist material associated with Islamic State, an offense carrying a maximum sentence of five years. He also faces a charge for contravening a court order requiring access to his electronic devices.
This arrest follows a broader investigation into an online network. Electronic devices seized from a Roxburgh Park home in May allegedly contained Islamic State-inspired violent extremist material. The AFP stated the arrested man was part of a network dedicated to sharing and distributing such propaganda.
AFP Counter-Terrorism Commander Paula Hudson stressed the critical nature of early intervention in these cases to prevent individuals from escalating to violence. She warned that the AFP is committed to bringing those who wish to harm the Australian community to justice. The commander emphasized that creating and sharing violent extremist material can desensitize individuals, particularly youth, to violence and normalize hate.
This incident is linked to previous arrests. In May, four men were charged for allegedly sharing and receiving IS propaganda. A fifth man, arrested on May 16 upon returning from Malaysia, also faces charges for possessing violent extremist material. The investigation was initially alerted in November 2024 after suspicious content was found on a teenager's phone during a routine Australian Border Force examination at Melbourne Airport.
