Coronavirus: ISIS using Covid to recruit terrorists

The threat of Islamic State ­extremists and hundreds of ­returned fighters across the Asia-Pacific region has remained at a high level through the COVID-19 pandemic.

Home Affairs Minister Peter Dutton.

The threat of Islamic State ­extremists and hundreds of ­returned fighters across the Asia-Pacific region has remained at a high level through the COVID-19 pandemic, as terrorists shifted online to incite ­violence and recruit new supporters.

The Morrison government has relisted Islamic State East Asia, which has about 300 members, as a terrorist organisation after advice from national security agencies.

Security concerns over the ISIS offshoot, which is based in The Philippines but also has a footprint in Indonesia and ­Malaysia, have been enhanced by the large cohort of foreign fighters returning to their home countries and the rapid evolution of encrypted devices and the dark web.

Home Affairs Minister Peter Dutton said keeping Islamic State East Asia as one of the 27 terrorist organisations listed under the criminal code would help protect Australians “both here and overseas”.

He said listing terror organisations, as well as related offences attracting penalties of up to 25 years’ jail, ensured the “effective prosecution of terrorists”.

“Based on advice from our ­security agencies, I am satisfied this terrorist organisation continues to meet the criteria for listing under the criminal code,” Mr Dutton said.

The Islamic State network has used COVID-19 to recruit, re-arm and urge followers to launch attacks against Western nations. The UN in August confirmed there were still 10,000 ISIS fighters actively operating in Iraq and Syria.

In a February speech, Aus­tralian Security Intelligence ­Organisation director-general Mike Burgess warned the “threat of terrorism will remain a constant feature of the global security environment in 2020”.

“The number of terrorism leads we are investigating right now has doubled since this time last year. The character of terrorism will continue to evolve and we believe that it will take on a more dispersed and diversified face,” Mr Burgess said.

“Violent Islamic extremism of the type embodied by the ­Islamic State and al-Qa’ida and their offshoots will remain our principal concern. Tens of thousands of Islamic extremists travelled to the Middle East to join AQ-aligned groups and ISIL, ­including from countries which weren’t previously known as sources of Islamic extremists.”