Fresh footage shows the moment three ISIS-linked women recently returned from Syria were taken into custody and charged with multiple offences.
Janai Safar, 32, was arrested after touching down in Sydney on Thursday night, while Kawsar Abbas, 53, and daughter Zeinab Ahmad, 31, were nabbed in Melbourne.
Footage showed the moment counter-terrorism detectives, wearing suits and carrying hefty binders, escorted Ms Abbas and Ms Ahmad from Melbourne Airport.
Ms Abbas was marched through an empty zone of the airport as she covered her face with a black blanket.
Her daughter followed just behind, surrounded by police.
The pair on Friday morning were charged over crimes against humanity offences.
Officers then loaded the women and baggage into cars and took them to Victorian police headquarters.
In Sydney, Ms Safar was also arrested upon arrival at the Sydney International Airport.
Police escorted the 32-year-old, dressed in a long, green head veil, grey hoodie and carrying a neck pillow, to an awaiting van in an underground lot.
Later on Thursday night, counter-terrorism police charged Ms Safar with allegedly entering and remaining in a declared conflict zone.
She was also charged with joining a terror organisation – Islamic State.
Both offences carry a maximum penalty of up to 10 years’ imprisonment.
Police will allege Ms Safar first travelled to Syria in 2015 to join her husband who had already left the country to join ISIS.
The mother and daughter arrested in Melbourne, Ms Abbas and Ms Ahmad, face multiple crimes against humanity charges after they were laid on Friday morning.
Ms Abbas faces one count each of alleged enslavement, possessing a slave, using a slave and engaging in slave trading.
Each alleged offence carries a 25-year imprisonment maximum penalty.
She is alleged to have travelled to Syria in 2014 with her husband and children.
Authorities alleged Ms Abbas purchased a female slave for US$10,000 and knowingly kept the woman in her home.
Ms Ahmad was also charged with enslavement and using a slave.
Both women were detained by Kurdish forces in 2019, and were held with family members in the Al-Roj detention camp in northeastern Syria.
AFP Assistant Commissioner Counter Terrorism Stephen Nutt said operational planning for the potential return of individuals from the Middle East started in 2015.
“Australian (counter-terrorism teams) methodically investigated all Australians who travelled to declared conflict areas and will ensure those who are alleged to have committed a criminal offence are put before the courts,” Asstistant Commissioner Nutt said.
The teams include “some of the most experienced national security investigators and analysts in our country”, he added.
“This remains an active investigation into very serious allegations,” Asstistant Commissioner Nutt said.
Melbourne and Sydney airports were swamped with media and members of the public on Thursday night.