PM Abbot promises jail for returning Australian jihadists
24 Sept 2014 4:17 AM IST
‘My unambiguous message to all Australians who fight with terrorist groups is that you will be arrested, prosecuted and jailed for a very long time,’ Abbott told parliament in a statement on national security.
Australia has announced tougher counterterrorism laws to target home-grown terrorists and those who fight overseas over fears violent jihadist citizens in Syria and Iraq will return home.
‘Our laws are being changed to make it easier to keep potential terrorists off our streets,’ Abbott said after the biggest security crackdown in Australian history last Thursday saw more 800 police officers raid nearly 30 homes. A 22-year-old man was charged with planning a terrorist act. The government said it had foiled a plot by IS jihadists to carry out gruesome ‘demonstration executions’ in Australia.
Abbott said 60 Australians were known to be fighting in Iraq and Syria, 20 had already returned to Australia while another 100 actively support the jihadists. The government says current legislation is inadequate to fight the threats from groups such as the IS and is pushing two bills through parliament this week.
Australia has announced tougher counterterrorism laws to target home-grown terrorists and those who fight overseas over fears violent jihadist citizens in Syria and Iraq will return home.
‘Our laws are being changed to make it easier to keep potential terrorists off our streets,’ Abbott said after the biggest security crackdown in Australian history last Thursday saw more 800 police officers raid nearly 30 homes. A 22-year-old man was charged with planning a terrorist act. The government said it had foiled a plot by IS jihadists to carry out gruesome ‘demonstration executions’ in Australia.
Abbott said 60 Australians were known to be fighting in Iraq and Syria, 20 had already returned to Australia while another 100 actively support the jihadists. The government says current legislation is inadequate to fight the threats from groups such as the IS and is pushing two bills through parliament this week.
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