Fourteen people investigated for terror symbol displays
Police are investigating the display of terrorist iconography and whether rhetoric about killed terrorists crossed the threshold into inciting violence.
A protester holds up a photograph of Hezbollah Secretary-general Hassan Nasrallah during a Pro-Palestine rally for Gaza and Lebanon at the State Library of Victoria in Melbourne, Sunday, September 29, 2024.
Three search warrants have been executed and 14 people are being investigated for allegedly displaying a terrorist symbol at pro-Palestinian protests.
Australian Federal Police officers have trawled through 90 hours of CCTV and body camera footage and seized mobile phones and clothing depicting a terrorist symbol.
“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,” acting commissioner Ian McCartney said.
The AFP is further investigating whether rhetoric over killed terrorists or events in the Middle East reached the threshold of urging violence or advocating terrorism.
A special taskforce, codenamed ARDVARNA, was set up for the rally specifically due to the volume of evidence and referrals that had to be assessed, AFP deputy commissioner Krissy Barrett said.
Police have spent some 1100 combined hours investigating.
There were 113 reports relating to the display of prohibited hate symbols between January and October 2024, which resulted in 49 further investigations by the joint counter-terrorism team.
Of these, 28 remain active but no one has been charged since the hate symbols legislation came into effect on January 8, Ms Barrett confirmed on Tuesday.
The laws criminalise glorifying and praising acts of terrorism.
ASIO Director General Mike Burgess said while people waving Hezbollah flags may indicate they follow a violent ideology, “it might just be the actions of a misdirected individual who doesn’t really know what they’re doing”.
Ten counter-terrorism operations have resulted in 15 people being charged in 2024, Mr McCartney said.
Of those charged, 11 were under the age of 18 and many were radicalised online, he said.
AAP
