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An
Australian court on Tuesday convicted Sydney man Hamdi Al Qudsi of
recruiting seven young men to travel overseas and fight alongside
Islamic State and al Qaeda affiliates in Syria, a spokeswoman for the
court said.
Australian court on Tuesday convicted Sydney man Hamdi Al Qudsi of
recruiting seven young men to travel overseas and fight alongside
Islamic State and al Qaeda affiliates in Syria, a spokeswoman for the
court said.
Al
Qudsi, 42, was found guilty by the New South Wales state Supreme Court
in Sydney of aiding the men to fight with extremist groups in 2013, the
spokeswoman told Reuters.
Qudsi, 42, was found guilty by the New South Wales state Supreme Court
in Sydney of aiding the men to fight with extremist groups in 2013, the
spokeswoman told Reuters.
“The
charges were give money/goods to promote/support foreign hostile acts,”
she said. Each of the seven charges carries a 10 year prison sentence.
Al Qudsi is yet to be sentenced.
charges were give money/goods to promote/support foreign hostile acts,”
she said. Each of the seven charges carries a 10 year prison sentence.
Al Qudsi is yet to be sentenced.
Prosecutors
alleged that Al Qudsi made arrangements for the men to travel to Syria
in 2013 for the purpose of fighting alongside groups listed by the
Australian government as terrorist organizations.
alleged that Al Qudsi made arrangements for the men to travel to Syria
in 2013 for the purpose of fighting alongside groups listed by the
Australian government as terrorist organizations.
Under tough new
security powers passed in 2014, Australians face up to a decade in
prison for overseas travel to areas declared off limits, which includes
the province of Raqqa in Syria, a key strategic hub for Islamic State
militants.
A
copy of the indictment provided to Reuters lists seven men that Al
Qudsi recruited to fight in Syria. Two of those men – Tyler Casey and
Caner Temel – were killed in Syria, the Australian Broadcasting
Corporation (ABC) reported.
copy of the indictment provided to Reuters lists seven men that Al
Qudsi recruited to fight in Syria. Two of those men – Tyler Casey and
Caner Temel – were killed in Syria, the Australian Broadcasting
Corporation (ABC) reported.
Two other men listed in the indictment, Muhammed Abdul-Karim Musleh and Mehmet Biber, have since returned, the ABC said.
About
100 people have left Australia for Syria to fight alongside
organizations such as Islamic State, Australia’s Immigration Minister
said earlier this year.
100 people have left Australia for Syria to fight alongside
organizations such as Islamic State, Australia’s Immigration Minister
said earlier this year.
Australia,
a staunch U.S. ally, has been on heightened alert for attacks by
home-grown radicals since 2014 and authorities say they have thwarted a
number of plots.
a staunch U.S. ally, has been on heightened alert for attacks by
home-grown radicals since 2014 and authorities say they have thwarted a
number of plots.
There
have been several “lone wolf” assaults, including a 2014 cafe siege in
Sydney that left two hostages and the gunman dead. Also in 2014, police
shot dead a Melbourne teenager after he stabbed two counter-terrorism
officers.
have been several “lone wolf” assaults, including a 2014 cafe siege in
Sydney that left two hostages and the gunman dead. Also in 2014, police
shot dead a Melbourne teenager after he stabbed two counter-terrorism
officers.
In
2015, a 15-year-old boy fired on an accountant at a police headquarters
in a Sydney suburb and was then killed in a gunfight with police.
2015, a 15-year-old boy fired on an accountant at a police headquarters
in a Sydney suburb and was then killed in a gunfight with police.
