Australian police wait nervously for the release of dangerous terrorists sent to jail after 9/11
Australian authorities fear that the release of terrorists jailed after 9/11 could trigger a new wave of terror attacks.
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Australian authorities are bracing for the release from jail of a generation of 9/11 terrorists, fearing they will resuscitate their plans to carry out terror attacks on home soil.
Eleven convicted terrorists are due to be released in 2020, a record number. Among them is Abdul Naver Benbrika, the Algerian-born radical cleric who was the spiritual head of the 2004 Pendennis conspiracy to attack targets in Sydney and Melbourne.
The Australian reports that authorities are most concerned about the release of Abdul Naver Benbrika. News Corp reported in 2017 that authorities were worried that Benbrika, serving a 15-year sentence for leading a terrorist plot to attack Melbourne landmarks, was radicalising other prisoners.
Senior prison and federal law enforcement sources told the Herald Sun in 2017 that Benbrika had a direct association with one of the alleged ringleaders of the Christmas terror plot — a plan to attack celebrations at St Paul’s Cathedral or Federation Square.
The radical Islamic hate preacher passed messages to extremists from jail, with prison and federal law enforcement sources believing family members relayed conversations to hardcore followers on the outside.
The family members and Benbrika speak Arabic during prison visits.
Authorities believe Benbrika positioned himself as Australia’s spiritual leader of jihad from behind bars.
The Australian Federal Police (AFP) also has warrants for some of the Australian men who fought with Islamic State and are now jailed by Kurdish authorities. Several are being investigated in relation to alleged sexual assault of Yazidi women captured by Islamic State fighters and sold as slaves.
The AFP has flown its investigators to Europe and North America to interview alleged victims and take statements for possible future prosecutions.
Meanwhile, female Islamic State terrorists in Syria are being hunted down by the AFP. Arrest warrants have been issued for approximately 20 Australian women who are being held in a refugee camp.
AFP investigators in the Returning Terrorist Suspect team have obtained briefs of evidence against the Australian women held in the al-Hawl refugee camp.
The Australian reports that the women are likely to be charged with a variety of offences including travelling to a declared zone as well as supporting or joining a terrorist group.
The warrants will be served only should they return home.
The Morrison government refuses to evacuate the family groups, although it did organise the return of a number of unaccompanied Australian children.
Save The Children deputy chief executive Matt Tinkler said Australian women who had done the wrong thing should be held accountable.
“However, the best place for that is here in Australia, where we have a robust justice system and where innocent children can be brought home to safety and will not live at the mercy of the brutal Syrian winter,’’ he said.
“Whatever the view of the conduct of their parents, the reality is the children are innocent, they’re Australian citizens and their lives are currently at risk.’’
Originally published as Australian police wait nervously for the release of dangerous terrorists sent to jail after 9/11