A former Sydney man has been arrested on his return to Australia from Turkey over his alleged role in working with the terrorist group.
Mohamed Zuhbi, 30, was arrested at Melbourne International Airport by members of the AFP International Counter Terrorism Investigations Response Team after arriving on a flight from Turkey at about 4pm on Saturday.
An arrest warrant had been sought by NSW JCTT – comprising the AFP, NSW Police Force (NSWPF), the Australian Security Intelligence Organisation, and the NSW Crime Commission – following an investigation into Zuhbi’s alleged travel from Sydney to Turkey in 2013.
Authorities will allege he then travelled from Turkey to Syria, where he allegedly facilitated the travel of foreign terrorist fighters to support IS.
The man appeared before Melbourne Magistrates’ Court on Sunday morning via video link to face a number of Commonwealth terrorism offences.
He will be charged with six terrorism offences, including one count of knowingly giving support and resources to a terrorist organisation, one count of engaging in hostile activity in a foreign state, three counts of providing support to another person to engage in hostile activity in a foreign state, and one count of entering or remaining in declared areas.
The court heard Zuhbi was at risk of self-harm, with his lawyer requesting that he be seen by a psychiatric nurse. The court also heard that he suffers from sinusitis.
AFP Commander Counter Terrorism Operations Stephen Dametto said authorities are pursuing "all lines of enquiry".
"They include that this man was an active recruiter who sought to encourage Westerners to leave their country and join Islamic State," he told reporters later on Sunday.
"This case and outcome highlights the fact that despite the difficulties in overseas investigations and even the passage of time - we don't forget," Assistant Commissioner Mark Walton added.
Mohamed Zuhbi, 30, was arrested at Melbourne International Airport by members of the AFP International Counter Terrorism Investigations Response Team. Source: Australian Federal Police
"We cannot forget those who present a risk in this state and in this country to contaminate the community and encourage violent extremism."
There is no current or impending threat to the community related to the operation, the AFP said.
Zuhbi left Australia eight years ago and took part in the Syrian civil war, with police suspecting he was helping recruit fighters for IS.
Between 2013 and 2015 he claimed to have been working with refugees on the Turkish-Syrian border.
Zuhbi will be remanded in custody to re-appear via video link at the Melbourne Magistrates Court on 21 May while he serves out his two-week quarantine period.
