A 24-year-old New Zealand national has been charged after allegedly being caught with violent extremist material on his mobile phone.
The man was stopped by Australian Border Force (ABF) officers for a baggage inspection at Perth Airport on Monday morning after arriving on an international flight.
Authorities allege officers discovered suspicious content during the examination and alerted the Australian Federal Police (AFP).
AFP Commander Nick Read said authorities were working closely with partner agencies to curb the spread of extremist content.
“There is no place in Australian society for violent or extremist material, which terrorist organisations use to radicalise members of the community, particularly young or vulnerable people.”
An investigation was launched by the Western Australia Joint Counter Terrorism Team (WA JCTT), a partnership between the AFP, the Western Australia Police Force and the Australian Security Intelligence Organisation. The WA Police State Security Investigations Group also assisted.
Police allege a review of the man’s phone uncovered material accessed online that constituted violent extremist content. This allegedly included footage of overseas killings linked to different ideologies and videos detailing how to manufacture home-made explosives.
Officers later executed a search warrant at a property in Perth’s CBD, seizing a computer for further forensic examination.
The man has been charged with one count of possessing or controlling violent extremist material, contrary to section 474.45C of the Criminal Code (Cth), which carries a maximum penalty of five years’ imprisonment.
ABF Superintendent John Eldridge said frontline border operations and intelligence gathering played a crucial role in identifying threats to community safety.
Investigations remain ongoing, with forensic analysis of the seized devices continuing.
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