The Australian Federal Police (AFP) is investigating 14 individuals for allegedly displaying symbols linked to terrorist organisations during a Melbourne protest in September.
Acting Commissioner Ian McCartney, in his Senate Estimates opening statement, confirmed the probe involves over 90 hours of CCTV and police body camera footage review.
As part of the investigation, the AFP has executed three search warrants, seized mobile devices, and confiscated clothing items allegedly bearing terrorist symbols.
“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,” McCartney said.
Although he withheld further details to protect the operation, he assured that the investigation would proceed transparently.
In addition, the AFP is examining whether some discourse about deceased terrorists or ongoing Middle East events meets criteria for urging violence or advocating terrorism.
ASIO Warns of Rising Terror Threats
It comes after Australian Security Intelligence Organisation (ASIO) Director-General Mike Burgess revealed Australia had experienced nine suspected terror incidents in the past year, a third of which involved religiously motivated violence.Although none were directly linked to the Middle Eastern conflict, “the majority of incidents were allegedly motivated by nationalist and racist ideologies or mixed ideologies,” he said.
Burgess reported to a Senate inquiry on Nov. 4 that ASIO currently assesses a greater than 50 percent likelihood of domestic terror activity within the next year due to escalating politically motivated violence.
He also pointed out a surge in political polarisation, saying that “security dynamics are playing out as we predicted.”
He highlighted an increase in uncivil discourse and violent protest, spurred initially by COVID-19 restrictions and more recently by the Israel-Hamas conflict.
Ahead of large-scale protests marking the anniversary of Hamas’s attack on Israel on Oct. 7, the AFP, together with state police forces, had issued a strict warning against illegal activities or violence.
In a joint statement, police warned that any incitement or endorsement of violence based on race or religion, including the display of terrorist symbols, is a serious offence under Australian law.
Specific crimes include promoting or praising terrorism, which authorities say will face “no tolerance.”
This warning was supported by police forces across all Australian states and territories, including New South Wales, Victoria, Queensland, and Western Australia.
Despite these cautions, pro-Palestine rallies drew thousands of participants nationwide.
