Prison guards on alert over fears jails have become potential terror breeding grounds

PRISON guards are on alert over fears jails have become potential terrorism breeding grounds, with concerns about convicted extremist prisoners such as Abdul Nacer Benbrika.

05/08/2005: Self-styled Islamic radical Abdul Nacer Benbrika (Abu Bakr) in video still during an interview with ABC-TV at his home in Melbourne. Picture: Kym Smith

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PRISON guards are on alert over fears jails have become potential breeding grounds for extremism.

Corrections Victoria and Victoria Police are worried by the influence of prisoners such as convicted terrorism plotter Abdul Nacer Benbrika.

As previously reported by the Herald Sun, each year about 25 inmates are believed to be converting to Islam.

The Herald Sun has been told funding to improve intelligence gathering had improved monitoring and safety across most prisons.

However, criticism has been levelled at privately run jails, such as Port Phillip Prison in Melbourne’s west, which is understaffed at times.

Prison sources said gaps have emerged in its intelligence gathering, and contraband problems emerged on days when staffing was low.

International studies caution that conversions to Islam should not be interpreted as prisoners necessarily being radicalised.

But prisons are viewed as a high-risk area for recruiting.

Nationwide, more than 3500 prison staff have been trained to recognise and report signs of an inmate becoming radicalised.

Programs are in place to deradicalise prisoners who have or are at risk of being recruited for terrorism.

Hate preachers, such as Benbrika, have followings both inside and outside of the prison system.

Last year it was reported in The Australian Benbrika was moved to Barwon Prison because he had been spruiking jihadist ideals.

At least one youth arrested on terrorism-related matters in Melbourne in the past 12 months was influenced by Benbrika’s ideology.

Among his followers, three are believed to have attempted to travel to Syria.

His son, Bakr, was stopped at Melbourne airport in 2014 as he attempted to leave the country for the Middle East.

It is not known if his father urged him to travel to Syria, but it is understood Benbrika is a supporter of Islamic State.

Benbrika could be released from prison as early as next year.

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