Dutton strips notorious terrorist of Australian citizenship

Abdul Nacer Benbrika wanted to make history with the biggest terrorist attack on Australia but will instead make his mark with another “first”.

NOTORIOUS terrorist Abdul Nacer Benbrika has become the first person to be stripped of their Australian citizenship while still onshore.

Benbrika was jailed for 15 years in 2009 for his role in plots involving terror cells in Melbourne and Sydney planning to attack high profile targets including the AFL Grand Final and Australian Grand Prix.

Terror crackdown to prevent ‘London Bridge’ style attack

Terrorists could be kept in Australia for intelligence

Terror suspect and Muslim cleric Abdul Nacer Benbrika is escorted from the Victorian Supreme Court in Melbourne, after his conviction and sentencing on terrorism charges.

Home Affairs Minister Peter Dutton confirmed he cancelled Benbrika’s citizenship last Friday with the terrorist given 90 days to launch an appeal.

“(Benbrika) spoke about thousands of Australians being killed and that’s what he advocated at the time,” Mr Dutton said.

“He was convicted, obviously, in relation to those matters and it doesn’t matter who it is, if it’s a person that’s posing a significant terrorist threat to our country then we will do whatever is possible within Australian law to protect Australians.”

Court drawing of the leader Abdul Nacer Benbrika (bottom left).

Benbrika, who also has Algerian citizenship, was eligible for parole after 12 years.

His sentence expired on November 5 but he has remained in jail as the Commonwealth sought a continuing detention order of three years.

Mr Dutton would not comment on the legal proceedings in Benbrika’s case but said efforts to remove him would depend on his remaining prison time, co-operation with Algeria and a possible appeal.

“Generally speaking people would serve out their sentence and then be deported, or be placed into immigration detention until they can be deported from Australia,” he said.

“The more that we can stop these people from coming back to Australia, the quicker we can deport these people, the safer the Australian public remains.”

He said 20 dual nationals had been stripped of their Australian citizenship for their roles in terrorist activities but Benbrika was the only one to have been onshore when the decision was made.