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SecurityActive · 26h

Melbourne man charged with distributing 10,000 ISIS propaganda files

Counter-terrorism police arrested and charged 65-year-old Mohamed Bakit after a years-long covert operation linked him to spreading extremist material online.

newest coverage 21h agosummary written 17h ago4 pieces MastodonNewswiresReddit

What to know

  • A 65-year-old Australian citizen was arrested and charged with being a member of a terrorist organisation and distributing ISIS propaganda after a years-long covert investigation.
  • Bakit allegedly sent about 10,000 files of violent extremist material between 2015 and 2020, making him a principal distributor of ISIS propaganda online.
  • Police confirmed no link to specific attacks and no threat to the community, though counter-terrorism officials did not rule out further arrests among his associates.
  • His lawyer will apply for bail, citing his poor health and first-time custody status.

“Police alleged the material included 'abhorrent' depictions of executions and torture, material intended to radicalise, and information about carrying out mass casualty attacks.”

Paula Hudson, AFP Acting Assistant Commissioner · ABC Australia ↗

Mohamed Bakit Arrested suspectPaula Hudson AFP Acting Assistant CommissionerStephanie McLennan Bakit's lawyer

Melbourne man charged with distributing 10,000 ISIS propaganda files
Sydney Morning Herald

How it unfolded 2 developments, newest first · click a bar or a number to jump articlesposts

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  1. background

    Bakit charged with five counts; bail application set for next day — Bakit faced court briefly on Wednesday afternoon, charged with one count of membership of a terrorist organisation, three counts of using a carriage service to menace, harass or cause offence, and one count of possessing or controlling violent extremist material. His lawyer Stephanie McLennan announced plans to apply for bail.

  2. 2

    AFP reveals scale of propaganda distribution and possible further arrests

    Assistant Commissioner Paula Hudson disclosed that Bakit sent approximately 10,000 files of violent extremist material and IS propaganda between November 2015 and July 2020, including depictions of executions and torture, radicalisation material, and mass casualty attack instructions. Hudson stated the scale placed him as a principal distributor of ISIS propaganda and did not rule out further arrests.

    “We certainly won't be ruling out further arrests in relation to that.”
    — Paula Hudson
    1. 2 outlets Breaking: Alleged ISIS member arrested in Melbourne

      first by ABC Australia, 1d ago · also Sydney Morning Herald

      1 more headline
  3. 1

    Counter-terrorism police arrest Bakit in Carlton raid

    After years of covert monitoring, counter-terrorism police arrested the 65-year-old Bakit during a Joint Counter Terrorism Team raid of his Carlton home on Wednesday morning.

    “My client is in poor health and has every intention to apply for bail.”
    — Stephanie McLennan, Bakit's lawyer · source
  4. background

    Police execute further search warrant and seize electronic devices — A second search warrant was executed, with additional electronic devices seized from Bakit during this phase of the investigation.

  5. background

    Australian Border Force finds suspicious material on Bakit's phone — During luggage examination at Melbourne Airport before a planned trip to Egypt, ABF officers discovered suspicious material on Mohamed Bakit's mobile phone, prompting the initial counter-terrorism investigation.