A flight the ABC understands is carrying women and children linked to the Islamic State group has touched down at Melbourne Airport.
They left the Al-Roj camp in northern Syria last week, and are understood to have boarded a flight from Qatar.
The group is believed to include two so-called ISIS brides and seven of their children, including a teenager who recently turned 18.
A second group who also left the Syrian camp last week are expected to arrive in Sydney tonight.
The women and children are understood to have boarded a flight from Qatar. (ABC News)
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese today declared he had “nothing but contempt for anyone who has any sympathy with ISIS”.
He reiterated the government had offered no financial support for ISIS-linked women returning from Syria and warned they would “face the full force of the law” on the advice of “security agencies”.
Minister for Home Affairs Tony Burke reaffirmed in a statement the current cohort made plans to travel from Syria to Australia without government assistance.
“These are people who have made the horrific choice to join a dangerous terrorist organisation and to place their children in an unspeakable situation,” he said.
“As we have said many times — any members of this cohort who have committed crimes can expect to face the full force of the law.”
Earlier this month, four women and a group of children returned from Syria’s Al-Roj camp.
Three of the women were arrested and charged by the Australian Federal Police (AFP) on arrival in Melbourne and Sydney. They remain in custody.
Two have been charged with slavery offences and the other with travelling to a declared terrorist area and being a member of a terrorist organisation.
It is unclear if any of the women arriving today will face arrest.
Loading