A 23-year old man was arrested by Australian police on Tuesday. He was picked up in Melbourne on the suspicion of funding an American citizen who went to Syria to join the Islamic State. The investigation was tipped off by the FBI. The man is accused of offering $12,000 to a group of terrorists. This arrest case doesn’t seem to be related to other recent terror acts in Australia. Recently a teenager, named Numan Haider stabbed two police officers in Melbourne, Australia. He was shot dead by the police in Endeavour Hills.
Police say the man arrested on Tuesday does not seem to be a threat to the community, because no evidence of any premeditated terrorist attacks was found. His arrest was a joint operation put together by the Melbourne Joint Counter Terrorism Team and the Australian Federal Police. Neil Gaughan, National Manager of Counter Terrorism from the Australian Federal Police said the operation was a real success and it reflected well on the way in which law enforcement was handling terrorism investigations. He also declared: “We are acutely aware that to participate in overseas fighting, funds are required. In this case we will allege that the man was funding someone from the US. However who is being funded makes no difference.” He also added that even the act of funding such a terrorist organization is similar to actually being among the terrorists and actively participating in the killings.
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Authorities in Australia believe there are approximately 60 Australian citizens involved in Syria and Iraq and more than 100 funding and supporting the terrorists from inside Australia. Officials fear that recruits from Australia might return to the country at some point and bring back the ideology and training of the jihadists. They fear local terrorist attacks might take place. It is believed that approximately 20 fighters have already returned from the conflict zone. Australia is supporting the campaign led by the U.S. against the Islamic State in Syria and Iraq. Last week, the Australian government introduced a new bill in parliament which allows the imprisonment of Australians fighting for the terrorists or offering them support of any kind.