Four Melbourne men have been charged with accessing and distributing “ISIS propaganda”.
Australian Federal Police executed four search warrants across homes in Melbourne’s Roxburgh Park, Clyde North and Meadow Heights on Thursday, following an investigation dating back to November 2024.
Five individuals were arrested in the raids, with police seizing mobile phones and other electronic devices.
Police later charged two men from Roxburgh Park, 21-year-old Mohammad Ahmadzai and 20-year-old Azan Syed, as well as 29-year-old Sulaiman Sarwar and 19-year-old Adian Sarwari from Clyde North.
All four have been charged with possession of violent extremist material – an offence carrying a maximum five-year sentence.
A fifth Meadow Heights man, aged 21, was released pending further inquiries.
AFP Counter Terrorism Commander Paula Hudson said the National Security Investigations Team had moved to arrest the individuals to keep the community safe.
“We allege these men were actively engaging in the sharing of this material inspired by ISIS, a terrorist organisation responsible for mass killings, and violent religious persecution,” Commander Hudson said.
The AFP said the investigation had begun when the Australian Border Force located “suspicious content” during a routine search of Mr Syed’s luggage when he returned from Turkey in November 2024.
The matter was reported to the AFP and Mr Syed’s phone was later seized.
The ABF subsequently intercepted Mr Ahmadza at Melbourne Airport ahead of his department to Turkey, seizing his phone for further examination.
“It will be alleged forensic analysis of the devices revealed the men had been sending, sharing and receiving suspected violent extremist material (VEM), which included images and videos of previous terrorist attacks and other ISIS propaganda,” the AFP said in a statement.
The four men appeared before the Melbourne Magistrates’ Court on Friday, where they were bailed under strict conditions, including being subject to a curfew.
During the hearing, it was revealed that a search of the Sarwari’s Clyde North home had uncovered a beanie with Arabic writing a and a machete in a storage shed.
A search of the 29-year-old’s phone allegedly showed he had been sharing links to violent extremist videos as recently as March and April this year.
AFP senior constable Keyleigh Edward told the court these had included videos showing “the execution of unknown people”.
Counter Terrorism Commander Hudson said the AFP had acted early to prevent any violence occurring.
“We know that intervening early helps to ensure individuals are disrupted before they reach the most serious levels of offending and prevent any potential for escalation to violence,” she said.
“The disruption sends a clear message – the AFP, together with our state, Commonwealth and international law enforcement partners are watching, and we will not tolerate any type of hatred in our community.”
Australian Border Force Commander Operations Victoria Clinton Sims said the investigation was another example of the integral role the ABF had in protecting Australia’s community.
“This operation demonstrates how intelligence and border capabilities are combined to identify individuals of concern and take coordinated action at the border and beyond,” Commander Sims said.
“Protecting Australia’s border is central to protecting our national security, and we will continue to work with our partners to disrupt terrorism-related activity wherever it emerges.”