Unholy alliances in terror menace

AUTHORITIES have identified 67 potential “lone actor” terrorists in Australia, 62 of whom were not known before but include returning foreign fighters forming unholy alliances with organised crime syndicates including outlaw bikers to possibly fund their plots.

And it’s not just the remnants of Islamic State (ISIS) that is the threat but individuals with extreme left and right wing ideologies that agencies believe may be considering acts of terrorism.

The Australian Criminal Intelligence Commission (ACIC) boss Mike Phelan said the links between terrorism and crime were now at “unprecedented” levels as was the identifying of previously not identified lone actor threats to the nation.

In his evaluation of the past 12 months and future ACIC target directions tabled in federal Parliament, Mr Phelan expressed dismay at the speed and diversification of criminality by crime groups, where some were confined to trafficking drugs now moving into cybercrime, and their moves to forge links with known extremists.

“This includes Australians who finance terrorist activities, leave Australia to support terrorist causes or return intending to harm the Australian community.

“It also includes Australians recruited by organised crime groups who are seeking the skills developed in foreign conflicts,” he said.

He said during the past 12 months under the covert Project Ridgeline and Project Pinecrest, 67 persons of interest were identified “as displaying risk indicators associated with lone actors”.

“Sixty-two of these individuals had not been previously identified and were referred to the Australian Security Intelligence Organisation (ASIO) and the Australian Federal Police for further investigation,”

WE ALSO DISCOVERED LINKS BETWEEN SERIOUS AND ORGANISED CRIME AND COUNTER TERRORISM PERSONS OF INTEREST

MIKE PHELAN

the national criminal intelligence gathering group’s chief executive officer said.

“We also discovered links between serious and organised crime and counter terrorism persons of interest, particularly related to returning foreign fighters engaging in serious and organised crime activities including money laundering.”

ASIO, meanwhile, has warned lone actor attacks were not isolated to Islamic extremists.

“Individuals motivated by other ideologies such as extreme left or right wing ideology may consider conducting an act of terrorism,” it stated in its annual review tabled in parliament.