11 out of 15 charges in counter terrorism operations were aged 17 or under: AFP

A concerning number of children charged in relation to counter terrorism operations were shockingly either 17 years or under, the AFP have confirmed.

The majority of people charged in counter-terrorism operations conducted by the Australian Federa Police were aged 17 years or younger.

The AFP said the conflict in the Middle East had also led to escalated threats of violence and advocacy of terrorism domestically.

Out of 10 operations conducted in 2024, 11 of the 15 individuals charged were aged 17 years or younger, with the alleged perpetrators radicalised online.

AFP acting commissioner Ian McCartney shared the updated figures during a senate estimates hearing on Tuesday.

“I can reveal 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,” he said.

AFP acting commissioner Ian McCartney. Picture: NewsWire/ Gaye Gerard

“I want to reassure the community that the AFP has not diverted resources from terrorism investigations.”

Mr McCartney’s comments follows an escalation in Australia’s National Terrorism Threat level, which was upgraded from possible to probable in August due to fractures in social cohesion and an increase in Australians “embracing extremist ideologies.

In April this year two teenage boys, aged 14 and 17, were also charged with terrorism offences by NSW Police in connection to the Wakeley church stabbing which hospitalised Assyrian bishop Mar Mari Emmanuel.

On Tuesday, Mr McCartney also shared an update into Operation Ardvarna, which was launched on October 3 after alleged Hezbollah flags and prohibited terrorism symbols were displayed across a series of rallies in Melbourne.

Mr McCartney said officers have spent about 1100 hours on the operation, which includes reviewing 90 hours of CCTV and police body worn camera footage, with 14 individual currently under investigation.

14 individuals are under investigation after Hezbollah flags and prohibited terrorism were spotted at pro-Palestinian protests and rallies supporting Gaza and Lebanon in Victoria. Picture: NewsWire/ Tamati Smith.

Three search warrants have also been executed, and “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,” he said.