ASIO discovers ‘worrying trend’ of Aussie kids caught up in counter terror plots

Spy agencies are grappling with a disturbing discovery as they uncover local counter terror plots. This is what they have found.

Radicalised children are increasingly being identified in counter-terrorism operations, prompting Australia’s spy agency to call for action to tackle the “worrying trend”.

While the number of extremists plotting to launch domestic terror attacks has declined in recent years, News Corp can reveal minors are making up a larger number of those probed by the Australian Security and Intelligence Organisation.

In ASIO’s annual report, released last month, it said this trend was consistent in its investigations across “both the religiously and ideologically motivated extremism spaces”.

ASIO director-general Mike Burgess said espionage and foreign interference had supplanted terrorism as the agency’s “principal security concern” this year.

But he warned: “The threats posed by religiously motivated violent extremists and ideologically motivated violent extremists remain real. I remain concerned by the number of young Australians who are being radicalised and recruited by both cohorts.”

ASIO warns Islamic State is still pushing for violence against countries like Australia.

The spy agency’s report also revealed how extremists were showing an increasing interest in hi-tech weaponry including 3D-printed firearms that could be used in domestic ­attacks.

“The most likely terrorist attack scenario in Australia continues to be a lone-actor attack without warning and using a rudimentary and readily available weapon such as a knife or vehicle,” Mr Burgess said.

Mike Burgess, ASIO Director-General. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Gary Ramage

ASIO said Islamic State and its ­affiliated groups continued to push for violence against the West, including in Australia.

“Driven by local agendas – but with global ambition – these groups thrive, either physically or virtually, in unstable regions of the Middle East, Africa and South Asia, promulgating their ideology, undertaking attacks and encouraging their adherents to engage in violence,” the agency said.

The terrorist threat in Australia will rise when terrorist offenders are released from jail. Picture: Getty

“Their messaging continues to be consumed by violent extremists globally, including Sunni violent extremists here in Australia, across a variety of online platforms.”

ASIO has been heavily involved in the repatriation mission for the Australian families of Islamic State fighters left behind in Syrian refugee camps, with a secret mission in recent months reportedly carrying out crucial risk assessments.

In its annual report, the agency warned “terrorist capability” would increase in our region as foreign fighters returned and convicted terrorist offenders were released from prison.

News Corp revealed in January that there were 18 offenders due to be let out of Australian jails over the next five years, prompting state and federal governments to draw up plans for a sex offender-style register to monitor them.