Teens’ link to terrorists

AUSTRALIAN teens are planning and negotiating with others online to carry out “catastrophic terror attacks”, while the pandemic has made it “easier” for extremists to recruit members, the nation’s top cop has warned.

Australian Federal Police Commissioner Reece Kershaw has told a Senate Estimates hearing that the threat of terrorism in Australia remained at “probable”, but there had been some “significant shifts, in the diversity and complexity of the environment”, since the Covid-19 pandemic started.

“The threat of terrorism has not dissipated,” he said.

“In fact, the pandemic, extended lockdowns and more time spent online, has in some cases, made it easier for extremists to recruit.”

Mr Kershaw said increased “anti-government sentiment”, the proliferation of conspiracy theories, physical isolation and more time spent online had increased the terror threat in Australia.

Mr Kershaw said children as young as 13 who felt isolated and had retreated into the online world were connecting with extremists.

“We need parents and carers to understand who their children are communicating with online,” he said.

“I implore parents to call the AFP if they are worried their child is being targeted by individuals with extremist views. Early intervention can divert children from this path. Where possible, we want to keep youth out of the criminal justice system.”

Mr Kershaw said the community could be reassured the

Joint Counter Terrorism Teams, made up of the AFP, ASIO, state and territory police, had maintained efforts to ensure public safety, particularly through the Covid period.

He said religiously motivated violent extremism (RMVE) remained “the biggest threat”.

“Eighty-five per cent of investigations relate to RMVE, while the remaining 15 per cent relate to ideologically motivated violent extremism,” Mr Kershaw said.

“The IMVE cohort is extremely interconnected, especially online. Their views are diverse and include support for nationalists, white-supremacy and Neo-Nazism.”

Mr Kershaw said another challenge for the AFP was managing the “significant” threat of terrorist offenders released from Australian jails.

Eighteen terrorist offenders are scheduled for release from prison before 2026, and 54 are due for release by 2060.

Since February 2019, the AFP has applied for and obtained more control orders than in the 15 years prior.

Mr Kershaw revealed seven individuals had been arrested and charged for breaching the conditions of their control orders since July 2020.

“The community safety risk posed by the reintegration of convicted terrorist offenders into the community will be an ongoing challenge,” he said.

“I won’t go into the numbers of police and cost involved to monitor these offenders; however, this is a significant investment of police resources.”

“The AFP has established a dedicated … capability to manage the risk of terrorist offenders,” he said.