Eleven of 15 people charged in counter terrorism operations this year aged under 17

Fourteen people are being investigated for allegedly displaying prohibited terrorist organisation symbols at a Melbourne protest, as alarm grows that youths under 17 are being radicalised online.

Protesters carry the photo of assassinated Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah at the State Library in Melbourne. Picture: Valeriu Campan

Fourteen people are being investigated for allegedly displaying prohibited terrorist organisation symbols at a Melbourne protest.

Shocking new figures also show that more than two thirds of people charged as part of 10 counter terrorism operations this year were aged 17 years or younger raising alarms about online radicalisation.

The Australian Federal Police launched Operation ARDVARNA last month following complaints about the alleged public display of banned hate symbols at a September protest in Victoria.

AFP Acting Commissioner Ian McCartney told a Senate estimates hearing on Tuesday that about 1100 hours had been spent investigating the reports, including reviewing 90 hours of CCTV evidence and police body worn camera footage.

AFP Acting Commissioner Ian McCartney at the March 19 Senate estimates hearing. Picture: Supplied

“Fourteen individuals are under investigation for display of a prohibited terrorist organisation symbol in a public place, three search warrants have been executed against three individuals, while a further three people have been spoken to by investigators,” Mr McCartney said.

“A number of mobile telephones have been seized, as well as an item of clothing depicting a prohibited terrorist organisation symbol.

“If relevant thresholds are met, the AFP will provide briefs of evidence to the Commonwealth Director of Public Prosecutions to determine if charges will be laid.”

Mr McCartney also revealed 11 of the 15 individuals charged during counter terrorism operations this year were aged 17 years and younger.

“Many of those young people were radicalised online,” he said.

“We are also investigating whether some discourse relating to deceased terrorists, or events in the Middle East, has reached the threshold of urging violence against groups or advocating terrorism.”

The AFP have received 113 reports of crime relating to prohibited hate symbols between January 8 and the end of October.

At least 49 have been subject to further investigations by the joint counter terrorism teams, with 28 ongoing.

Originally published as Eleven of 15 people charged in counter terrorism operations this year aged under 17