A man has been arrested just moments before he tried to board a plane out of Australia following the infiltration of an alleged extremist group chat earlier this year.
Mohammad Emad uddin Ahmadzai, 30, was arrested shortly before he was due to board an Etihad Airlines flight bound for Kabul, Afghanistan, on Saturday evening.
Melbourne Magistrates’ Court on Sunday heard Ahmadzai and his brother had multiple devices seized during a raid of a property in Roxburgh Park, north Melbourne, on May 7.
Australian Federal Police officers seized a green iPhone, a silver iPhone, a black iPad and an alleged improvised weapon from the home, the Herald Sun reported.
Forensic examination allegedly uncovered horrifying extremist material that included close range shooting, casualties being shot after death, hostage execution, beheadings and throat slashings.
The devices also allegedly contained images of dead children in Gaza, Palestine, as well as ISIS flags and logos.
Police alleged the devices belonged to Ahmadzai and claimed he was part of a group chat that shared extremist material.
His arrest was the sixth made in relation to the group chat, with four men charged in May and another charged when he returned to Australia from Malaysia.
Police arrested Mohammad Emad uddin Ahmadzai (centre) at Melbourne Airport on Saturday
Police alleged Ahmadzai was part of an alleged extremist group chat and possessed violent videos, including beheadings and ISIS content
Their cases remain before the court.
Ahmadzai was stopped by Australian Border Force and taken to an interview room shortly before his flight on Saturday.
In a recorded interview, he told officers he was taking his family to Kabul, via Abu Dhabi, to visit his sick father.
Police searched a large black suitcase and seized an Apple computer wrapped in bubble wrap, children’s paracetamol and a small glass vial containing a clear liquid.
Ahmadzai was charged with one count of possessing violent extremist material and another for contravening a requirement relating to a section of the Crimes Act.
The matter is due to return to Melbourne Magistrates’ Court on Tuesday.
AFP Commander Counter Terrorism South Paula Hudson said Australian police would continue working to bust alleged extremism online.
‘We allege this individual was part of a dedicated online network operating within Australia, motivated by sharing and distributing violent extremist material, including ISIS propaganda,’ she said.
Ahmadzai was arrested shortly before he was due to board an Etihad Airlines flight bound for Kabul, Afghanistan, from Melbourne
‘Creating and sharing violent extremist material can be the gateway to terrorism.
‘It desensitises individuals, including youth, to violence and creates a permissive environment to normalise hate.
‘That’s why the AFP takes this crime type so seriously.’
If you suspect someone is being radicalised online or in person, call the National Security Hotline on 1800 123 400.
In a life-threatening situation, call Triple Zero (000).
