Two Australian men arrested for terrorist links

Sydney, Sep 11 (IANS) Two men are expected to face an Australian court Thursday for allegedly funding and recruiting Islamist fighters for Syria.

Police raided houses and businesses in Logan, south of Brisbane, Wednesday and arrested the men, aged 31 and 21, following a 12- month joint operation carried out by the Australian Federal Police (AFP) and Queensland Police Service (QPS), Xinhua reported.

Police said it is alleged that the men were actively involved in recruiting, facilitating and funding people to travel to Syria to engage in hostile activities with proscribed terrorist group Jabhat al-Nusra.

AFP National Manager Counter-terrorism Assistant Commissioner Neil Gaughan said that the safety of the community is the highest priority for law enforcement.

“Australians travelling offshore to engage in, or support terrorist activities or conflict present a significant threat to Australia’s national security — both in foreign countries and upon their return to Australia,” Gaughan said in a statement.

“This operation demonstrates the effectiveness of Australia’s law enforcement and security agencies when we work closely together to protect the community in the fight against terrorism.”